Silo opponents vow to fight on

Press, 24 May 1989, Page 6

Silo opponents vow to fight on

Lyttelton residents opposed to a plan to build two cement silos at Gladstone Quay vowed on Monday evening to continue the fight after borough councillors recommended that the silos be approved.

Councillors met to consider an application by Milburn New Zealand, Ltd, to build two cement silos and a bagging facility on a site known as the old gasworks. The company asked the council for a dispensation from front yard requirements of 5m and a height restriction of 12m. The silos proposed by the company are 29.5 m wide and 33.3 m high.

Councillors recommended that planning consent be given subject to several conditions. These included the dropping of the height of each silo about 3m. The council also asked that they be painted a colour that would blend with the environment. In its application Milburn had asked that the company be allowed to paint the silos in company colours, white with blue trimming. Milburn will also be

required to prepaid a landscaping plan for the cliff behind the silos showing a planting programme and the retention of existing vegetation to the satisfaction of the borough engineer. Noise must also be kept to “corrected noise levels.”

A formal decision giving the council’s reasons for granting the application is expected later this week.

One of 13 objectors, Ms Kathy Grattan, said those opposed to the plan had decided to pool their money and appeal the decision.

“As soon as the full decision comes out, we will be calling together all the objectors and appealing it,” she said.

“A 3m reduction in the height of the towers is just a joke. It is a token gesture by the council to placate us.”

Ms Grattan said local people wanted the council to keep to the approved height restriction for the area.

“Whatever happens we will continue to fight it. We hope to hold it up long enough to vote in a new council.”