Visitor's rubbish causing problems

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 548, 9 August 1994, Page 2 (Supplement)

Visitor's rubbish causing problems

Refuse left by visitors to Ohakune is causing concem for the Waimarino Community Board. Members of the community board heard at their last monthly meeting that absentee property owners are depositing bags of rubbish on street curbs on their day of departure with that rubbish attracting dogs and other pests, as well as upsetting the aesthetics of the town. The problem of visitors and seasonal residents putting out refuse in official and non-official refuse bags on days other than the collection day (Monday) was first brought to the attention of the Ruapehu District Council by concerned residents of Turoa Alpine Village. In recent times the problem has gotten worse, with visitors depositing household rubbish into street litter bins and in some instances visitors are being advisedby accommodation houses to use the street litter bins for this purpose, the board heard. A suggestion was made that collection skips be positioned at the northern and southern entrances to the township, or placed on the road verge outside the gates of Ohakune' s tip for disposal of refuse out of normal operating hours. Board members heard however that the positioning of rubbish skips on the outskirts of town would attract con-

siderable costs including that of keeping the surrounding areas clean and tidy, and a beautification programme to enhance these areas. Member Winston Oliver expressed concern that by placing a skip outside the gates of the tip would, in essence, be extending the tip out onto the highway. The Board instead approved a proposal by the

Ruapehu District Council to distribute information leaflets to all residents in the Ohakune area, advising residents of the specified refuse collection day and also containing a map of the town showing the route to the Ohakune Sanitary Landfill (with hours of operation). Advertising in the Ruapehu Bulletin would coincide with the distribution of flyers in the town.