Complaints cttee formed

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 9

Complaints cttee formed

A “mushroom” sub-com-mittee will be set up by the Paparua County Council to deal with complaints about the Prebbleton factory of Meadow Mushrooms, Ltd. Council representatives also will meet Health Department staff to discuss the issue. Noise and smell allegedly emanating from the factory have for several years upset some nearby residents. Thirty people have claimed damages of $438,000 in a High Court writ against the company and two of its directors, Messrs R. M. Giles and P. R. Burden, the Government member of Parliament for Fendalton. The plaintiffs want the company to close, or to stop the composting and the storage of animal manure and straw at Prebbleton. At the council’s finance committee meeting yesterday it was decided that the “mushroom” sub-committee find a venue for a townplanning hearing for the company’s application to expand its factory. The hearing could be held in six weeks. Meadow Mushrooms has another site in the factory farm zone in Wigram. The County Chairman, Mr J. Y. Pethig, said that the planning application included provision for the composting for both projects to be done at Prebbleton.

Mr Pethig doubted that the council could argue the company’s right to compost at the Wigram site. “If they are going to compost for both sites at Prebbleton the council may have a different argument,” Mr Pethig said. Tornado costs Claims of $3.48 million were made with insurance companies after the January 19 tornado which centred on Halswell. The claims, most of which have been settled, do not include a further 490 to the Earthquake and War Damage Commission. The County Clerk estimated that those claims, of which more than 50 per cent related to vehicle excess policies, would add another $2.5 million to $3 million to the final figures. “Roadshow” Up to $3OO will be given by the council towards the costs of transport to take high school pupils in Paparua to the “Roadshow” performance. The show, which seeks to emphasise sensible driving in an entertaining manner, is being staged in Christchurch next week. The Roadshow Trust hopes that all third-formers and fourthformers in Canterbury will see the production.