Mushroom site smell remains

Press, 31 January 1984, Page 8

Mushroom site smell remains

The Paparua County Council will not take immediate action against Meadow Mushrooms. Ltd, although new odour control equipment at the Prebbleton factory has not completely eliminated the offensive composting smell.

In a report to the council’s Meadow Mushrooms sub-committee, the chief health inspector, Mr I. B. Dawson, said the equipment had been working since October and he had made many visits to the area in that time. Although the smell had been reduced, it had not been eliminated. There had been few northwesterly winds, so those positive results must be viewed with caution. The noise of forklifts had been reduced by more efficient mufflers being fitted, and an experimental sound barrier had been installed between the air hose work and local residences. However there was still considerable traffic noise generated by heavy vehicles from the site.

In spite of this, Mr Dawson recommended that the council should not yet take any action under the nuisance section of the Health Act, especially as Meadow Mushrooms, Ltd, has lodged an appeal in the High Court against the terms of its licence, imposed bv the Health Department.

The finance committee

yesterday adopted this recommendation. with the provision that the situation would be under constant review.

County cemetery

The Paparua County Council is looking at the possibility of establishing a county cemetery. Members of the finance committee yesterday agreed that there was a need to improve cemetery facilities. Cr P. K. Keller said he believed that only 20 people had been buried in the county in the last year. He thought this showed how out of date the county cemeteries were.

Cr E. C. Britnell said small district cemeteries were not suited to modern needs as they dissipated resources and the council “had been a bit tardy” in maintaining them. He said this was one of the few areas where the council had not met its resonsibilities. Although it would be costly and a long-term project, he believed there was a need for a county cemetery. The county engineer, Mr J. D. Annan, said he had approached the Waimairi District Council’s engineer about the possibility of a joint acquisition of land to get the most suitable block for a cemetery.

Some committee mem,bers felt the Paparua

County Council would be better to do this project on its own. but it was agreed that Mr Annan should prepare a full report on the matter.

Pensioner flats

The housing and cultural sub-committee has recommended that the council should build 10 pensioner flats in Goulding Avenue, Hornby, next to the cultural centre’ and county library. The County Clerk, Mr B. L. Mooar, said the estimated cost of 10 flats was $280,000, which would be financed by a Housing Corporation loan of $172,500 and Government subsidv of $107,000. He believed ’this would be economically viable provided realistic rents were set. The proposal will be discussed by the full council on February 7.

Dog trap

The chief hydatids control officer, Mr R. J. B. Mackintosh, was asked to prepare a report on the feasibility of a dog trap. Cr D. R. Shipley suggested that this could be a cheap and effective way of helping people who had problems with wandering dogs. Mr Mackintosh thought dogs would be wary and difficult to trap but would look at success rate of these cages in other counties.