Heathcote County upset at rubbish disposal delays

Press, 10 December 1983, Page 31

Heathcote County upset at rubbish disposal delays

Heathcote County councillors are worried about possible further delays in solving Christchurch’s rubbish disposal problem after the appointment of Cr W. T. Rice, of Waimairi, as chairman of the Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee last month.

Mr Rice is a noted opponent of the proposed Northern Transfer Station, which Heathcote supports. Cr T. P. Wills, Heathcote’s representative on the Metropolitan Refuse Committee, told Heathcote’s finance and administration committee meeting on Thursday that the Waimairi District Council and Christchurch City Council were using delaying tactics. ,

“I made it known that Heathcote was for a third refuse station,” he said. “If these people would like to delay again, the small councils cannot afford to sit back and pay the cost.” Cr Wills said that the alternative to a third transfer station was to expand the existing one at Parkhouse Road and the one being built at Ruru Road. This would be a big expense, and people . would have to come from all over

the city to use them. He said that a recent half-price open day at Parkhouse Road had cars banked up and trucks working for two hours after the station was closed.

Cr M. J. Taylor said residents in Ruru Road had already foreseen the traffic problems the eastern station would cause.

Cr Wills said that if a poll were taken over the whole of Waimairi asking whether residents wanted the northern station, at least twothirds would support it. “Mr Rice is using his personal preferences and preferences of people from his particular Waimairi riding and carrying those into the Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee,” said Cr 0. T. Alpers.

Cr Wills said that unless the Metropolitan Refuse scheme got going soon, it would cost Heathcote as much to run as having its own dump.

Cr M. C. C. Buchanan said Mr Rice should be invited to address the next Heathcote council meeting and be asked “some of the uncomfortable questions we are thinking about.

“I would be interested to

hear him speak on what he sees as his philosophy and intentions as chairman,” she said.

Ms Buchanan said she would like to know the cost of extending the eastern and western transfer stations to cater for the area that would need to be served if the northern station did not go ahead. A meeting will be held on Monday of representatives of the Paparua, Riccarton, and Heathcote councils to try to co-ordinate policy on the issue. Mr Rice will be invited to speak at the next Heathcote council meeting if no agreement is reached at the next Metropolitar. Refuse Disposal Committee meeting on Tuesday. Christmas lights Christmas lights will be erected on the fir tree in Cashmere Road opposite the foot of Hackthorne Road. It was recommended at the meeting that the lights be erected forthwith. Holyoake tribute Councillors at the meeting stood for one minute in silence as a tribute to the late Sir Keith Holyoake.