Transfer station site-talks sought

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 6

Transfer station site-talks sought

The Waimairi County Council hoped “to meet, in a reasonable way, reasonable people” to discuss the siting of Christchurch’s second refuse transfer station, said the chairman, Mr D. B. Rich, last evening. . Mr Rich told a council meeting that the news media had not acknowledged the emphasis the council’s finance and. by-laws committee had put bn. the need for discussions on the matter. Councillors accepted the committee’s recommmendation that until the siting of the station had been resolved the council would not accept any more refuse from the Parkhouse Road (western) transfer station after May 1, and that in the meantime no further payments would be. made to the Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee. This resolution stemmed from the Refuse Disposal Committee’s decision to build the second refuse transfer station in the eastern part of Christchurch instead of the northern part. Waimairi will ask it to reconsider this decision.

The Waimairi County Council had always envisaged’ that the northern

station would be built first. Now, the eastern station could be in use as early as next year, but the northern station will not open before 1985. Cr W. T. Rice said he did not think Waimairi’s “ultimatum” would lead to any cooperation as far as local government was concerned. “In the long term we should not be seen publicly to add further costs to the metropolitan refuse scheme. I hope the council will reject this recommendation," he said. In reply. Mr Rich said the recommendation was not an ultimatum. “We are merely asking to have restored the agreement under which we came into the scheme,” he said. “The emphasis on this is having further discussions. “It is unreasonable not to give notice to our partners of possible action that the council may take. We hope to meet in a reasonable way with reasonable people. I have every optimism that this will happen. This is the only way of gettirig for our

ratepayers what they are paying for.” - - -• Cr R. W. Skjellerup complained of “shilly-shallying” by a few councillors, who he said had . tried to ruin the scheme. ' ; i -: “Unless we work together, ,we will not get the scheme off the ground,” he said. Some councillors wanted to “shoot it down in flames.” Status change The council's decision to change its status to a district council was a "retrograde step,” said Cr H. M. Tait. “Once we take this step there is no going back. It will be the beginning of party political interference on this council,” she said. Mr Rich said the move would allow the council to join the Municipal Association. If it had been felt there would be any disadvantage in the step, it would not have been taken, he said. Councillors confirmed an ; earlier resolution, as a special order, that the council become a district council.