Birds prove problem at landfill site

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 7

Birds prove problem at landfill site

Birds attracted to the Metro refuse landfill site in Bottle Lake Forest are scaring children at a nearby school in Parklands.

The school’s headmaster had complained that the birds were flying low in the playground and scaring the children, the Christchurch Metropolitan Refuse Disposal Committee was told yesterday. The scheme’s manager, Mr Ray Urquhart, said in his report that birds had not been a problem at the landfill.

He said residents in Parklands had also complained about the birds’ fouling roofs and washing. The continual screeching of gulls was also annoying residents.

Landfill staff had been shooting the birds but the programme had started too late to prevent an increase in the bird’s population.

Mr Urquhart said the birds became a problem only when the Bexley tip

was closed. A programme of shooting the birds was advised then but restrictions on the use of firearms in the Bottle Lake Forest prevented the issue of a licence. Shooting began as soon as permission was eventually granted. While some progress was made, the population increased considerably after the recent nesting season. Cartridges were also being exploded to scare the birds away. Although he thought some control of the bird population would be regained, Mr Urquhart said complete elimination could not have achieved as long as a food supply was there. Free dumping

Free dumping at the Styx Mill Road Metro refuse station will be arranged to help promote the new station.

Two half-days of free dumping were agreed to by the Refuse Disposal Committee yesterday. One

half-day will be arranged before Christmas; the other will be held in February.

Cr Maurice Carter questioned the need for the promotion. He said the committee had a “captive audience” in that all people would take their refuse to one of the three refuse stations.

Cr John Wright, who was re-elected chairman of the committee, said he was surprised at the number of people living in the north of the city who still took their rubbish to the western station in Parkhouse Road.

Cr Roy Lester said people went to the western station out of habit and often did not realise the other stations existed. He said the northern station was the closest to the landfill site and therefore it cost less to transport rubbish dumped there.

“The more rubbish taken there the better,” he said.