Airport birds problem

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 8

Airport birds problem

Bird strikes at Christchurch Airport will be discussed at the feeding ground of many of the birds. The Sawyers Arms Road rubbish tip will be the meeting place of representatives of the Christchurch City Council, the Waimairi District Council, and other concerned councils. The councils want a solution to the bird problem which last year saw five birds strike aeroplanes and 25 near misses recorded. Pilots have said that they will not use the airport runway extensions, planned for completion in March, 1984, if the dump remains open. An alternative was needed to the tip run by the Waimairi District Council, said Cr I. G. Clark at yesterday’s meeting of the Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee. His council would be reluctant to close the Sawyers Arms Road tip unless Waimairi residents could dispose of rubbish elsewhere. He asked if the City Council or the Refuse Disposal Committee could guarantee that the Bexley tip and the Metro Refuse Station in Parkhouse Road, Sockburn, would be adequate alternatives. The Bexley tip had a limited life and Cr Clark said the City Council would have to give an assurance

that it could be used before the Sawyers Arms tip was closed. Some committee members blamed the situation on delays, caused by planning appeals, in opening a northern refuse station in Redwood. Cr H. A. Clark (Christchurch City Council) said a meeting at the tip would allow councillors to get a clearer idea of the problem. As well as Christchurch City and Waimairi councillors attending, those from other areas should be present, he said. The City Council-run airport was in Paparua Count}' and if the Sawyers Arms tip was closed it could increase dumping in Heathcote. Both authorities should be represented. Opening hours Home gardeners should be able to dump rubbish on public holidays at the Metro Refuse Station in Parkhouse Road, some committee members said. The station should be open more often to meet public demand, said Cr E. C. Britnell (Paparua County Council). The four City Concil representatives on the committee disagreed. However, they were outvoted when it was agreed that negotiations with the station employees’ unions take place when the freeze ends.