Objection to abattoir withdrawn

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 9

Objection to abattoir withdrawn

An objection to the Wairewa County Council’s decision to allow an abattoir at Hilltop, on the main highway to Akaroa. had been withdrawn, the council was told yesterday. A local resident’ Mr R. J. Calder, who was the only objector, had withdrawn his appeal, so there would be no hearing before the Planning Tribunal, said the County Clerk, Mr Bill Aydon. The North Canterbury Catchment Board had also granted Banks Peninsula Meat, Ltd, the water rights to build the abattoir, subject to certain conditions, he said. “The ball is really in the Banks Peninsula Meat company’s court as far as the council is concerned,” said Mr Aydon. It might be they would want to build a smaller

abattoir, he said. Since the council has already approved the plans to build the abattoir, the company could still go ahead and build if it wanted to, said Mr Aydon. The council granted the approval subject to several conditions. Among these are that the plant comply with the Clean Air Act and not create any offensive smells or emissions; that landscaping and planting of the site conform with an earlier landscape plan; and that access, water supply, and effluent disposal be provided by the company. The company had appealed against the landscaping requirements, the council was told. Treatment and disposal of effluent have to meet an earlier design specification requiring the treated and

diluted effluent to be spread over 3ha of land for two hours daily. District scheme The capabilities of the consultancy planners working on the review of the council’s District Scheme was questioned by Cr David Cadman. His remarks were prompted after hearing that the scheme, which has been under review for the last five years, was to be delaved further until December, 1986. “I think it is disgusting that there is going to be another delay,” Cr Cadman said. “Have we got the right legal people on the job?” The chairman, Mr Bill Thompson, said that the consultancy planners had other jobs to do as wellas

the council’s review. He suggested the council could emploj’ its own planner, as did the Ellesmere County Council. “If they are not able to keep up with the work, perhaps this idea could be looked into,” he said. Milling A suggestion to mill about o.Bha of pine trees on a council reserve at Kaituna was considered by the council. The trees would be milled and treated for the council’s own use, including fencing, poles, and palings. The largest trees were about 45cm in diameter, said the county foreman, Mr Don Akins. “We may find that some of the trees may be surplus to our needs,” said Mr Thompson, “but that could

be a matter that could come back to us later on." The wood would need to be treated before it could be used for fence poles, said Mr Akins. None of the macrocarpas would be felled, said Mr Thompson. They would be left to provide protection from the wind for the young trees. The council decided to ask for quotes on prices of felling and treating the trees before a final decision was made. Dump staffing More people seemed to be using the dump at Birdlings Flat on a Wednesday afternoon, when it was unattended, than on a Saturday, when it was, said Mr Akins. “We have found kitchen ranges, fridges, old tyres

and car bodies have been dumped when there is no staff there.” he said. Cr Thompson suggested the days when the dump was attended should be changed to when there were more people using it. "Perhaps people would not be so inclined to use it when the staff were there.” said Cr Akins. There seemed to be some confusion over what materials were allowed to be dumped, said Cr Cadman. A notice on the gate informed people what was admissable but did not itemise everything, said Mr Thompson. An itemised list of all materials not allowed to be dumped would be put in a newsletter and sent out with the rates notices, the council decided.