Islington smells cause concern

Press, 6 March 1984, Page 9

Islington smells cause concern

Offensive smells from the Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating freezing works at Islington are worrying the Paparua County Council. The council last evening agreed that a sub-commit-tee should meet the company to discuss the problem.

The council’s chief health inspector, Mr I. B. Dawson, reported on a complaint about smells from the company’s ponding area on February 25.

Mr Dawson said the company’s works manager had suggested the smell could have come from field irrigation. This was done on rotation in the Mortlake Street area. It was aggravated by climatic conditions and a mechanical breakdown in the sedimentation tank Which had now been

repaired. Mr Dawson said he had also received an earlier complaint about smells in Mortlake Street. When he inspected the area he noted a ‘’quite strong smell, typical of freezing works effluent.”

There were also complaints of offensive smells about this time last year, Mr Dawson said.

Cr R. S. Mayer (Islington),

said he had gone on a “sniffing trip” around Mortlake Street. While other areas were quite dry that area got more than its fanshare of water from the field irrigation and was like a “miniature lake” in some places. Cr P. K. Keller (Sockburn) said the effluent problems had been “going on since the year dot” and would continue unless the council ensured the effluent met a certain standard. The company was not obliged to reach such a standard and the council could still be discussing the problem in 1994, Cr Keller'said. Last week the Christchurch Drainage Board gave the company approval in principle to discharge its pelt house waste into the city’s sewage treatment system if the waste was upgraded. The county chairman, Mr J. Y. Pethig, said this proposal could help the problem. The company management had said it would welcome the opportunity to. dispose of the effluent, he said.

Cr R. G. Pearce (Halswell Rural) said it was not clear if all the effluent could be disposed of this way.

“I feel we should watch this with great care ... if it is going to be done it must cover the lot.”

Service awards

A proposal for countrywide community service awards was rejected by the council, seven votes to six.

Moving the motion supporting the awards Cr E. C. Britnell (Sockburn), said the awards would not be in competition with the Royal awards, they would be at a “lower level.”

Lower Hutt offered such awards, and Wanganui was planning to, he said. Cr W. J. Baker (Broad-field-Ladbrooks), said the council could consider making the public more aware that the council or individuals could recommend people for the Royal awards. Building permits Last month the council issued 89 building permits, totalling $1,898,644. A total of $7681 was collected in fees. In the corresponding period last year 93 permits for a total value of $1,243,961 were issued and $5589 was collected in fees.