Redwood backing for refuse appeal

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 4

Redwood backing for refuse appeal

Redwood residents last evening backed their local co-ordinating committee in its appeal against the siting of a refuse station in the area.

A public meeting attended by about 50 people voted that the committee should ‘pursue at minimum cost" its appeal. The committee, representing 39 community groups, objects to the siting of the proposed northern transfer station anywhere in Redwood. Two sites have already been approved by the Waimairi District Council - the rurally zoned site A in Styx Mill Road and site W. zoned industrial C. in Barnes Road. The Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee has the final choice of which site it prefers. Representatives of the National. Labour. Social Credit, and Values parties were in accord in opposing a transfer station in Redwood.

However, the meeting was told it was being naive if it thought it could easily defeat the proposal. Mr Brian Le Fevre, who as chairman of the Redwood Action Committee objected to the proposal at earlier town-planning hearings, said he could not see an end to the issue. He said the authorities were obsessed with the idea of siting the transfer station in Redwood. "The local authority knows it will have to face a group of ratepayers in whatever area it chooses and it has gone this far already in Redwood." he said.

In an appeal to the Planning Tribunal, site A could probably be rejected because of its rural zoning. But. Mr Le Fevre said, objecting to site W would be harder because it was in the industrial zone.

If the co-ordinating committee successfully appealed to the Planning Tribunal, the

matter was likely to go on to the High Court, at some cost. Mr Le Fevre said. Mr W. T. Rice, chairman of the co-ordinating committee. said that if its members handled the Planning Tribunal appeal without legal assistance, the cost would be $2OO to $3OO.

Mr Rice, who is also the Papanui Riding representative on the Waimairi District Council, said the money would be needed for typing and photocopying of documents.

Forty-two of the residents voted in support of proceeding with the appeal, which the committee has already lodged to meet a deadline. Five voted against appealing and several abstained, including Mr Le Fevre. The appeal should take place in the next few months. Mr Rice said three offers of financial assistance had been made, and any others would be appreciated.