Landcorp pressure sees National Park dump close

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 556, 4 October 1994, Page 1

Landcorp pressure sees National Park dump close

The National Park dump is to close "as soon as is practicable" and a transfer station set up. Rubbish from National Park and from the Whakapapa and Iwikau Village and skifield will be taken to Taumarunui dump in future. The decision was made at last Friday's full council meeting, where councillors were told a decision was necessary as the licence to use the present site had expired and that the landowners, Landcorp, were "extremely reluctant to renew the lease ... and if they did any conditions would be very severe." Environmental asset manager Tim Mills reported that the council had informed Landcorp that it could not accept

their conditions and that the council would endeavour to vacate the site by 3 1 October. Landcorp had offered to extend the existing licence to 12 February 1995 providing the council "accepts in writing, full responsibility for any toxic waste or residue problems which may arise from current and past landfill operations". Estimated costs to bring the dump up to present environmental standards were $102,000, plus day-to-day maintenance costs. The cost of reinstating the site (if ^ vacated) were $30,000 - $35,000. No estimates of costs of setting up a transTurn to Page 2 ■nnBBHBBEBBHHHi OPF.N DAIT1

Landcorp pressure sees NP dump close

FROMPAGEl fer station were given, nor estimated costs of transporting rubbish to Taumarunui. The council's choice of site was on Tongariro Timber Limited land, in Buddo Street. Councillors agreed to the proposal, accepting the need for urgent action. Cr Graeme Cosford said although there was not time to consult residents, a public meeting should be held to explain the council's decision. Cr Eddie Turley said whatever the council did they had to get it right first time. He said they should look carefully at the trans-

fer station design to ensure it was practical. The station should be fenced and sealed, he said. A metal surface would lead to a quagmire, and fencing was needed to break the prevailing westerly and north-westerly winds. The council heard that major changes werg.necessary at the Taumarunui dump, which would lead to it being better able to cope with the increased use. The Taumarunui dump had an estimated life of 10-15 further years. Council chief executive Cliff Houston said Landcorp' s response had "put them in a tail spin" and

that urgent action was essential. He said it had been the council's intention to continue operating the National Park dump past 2000. In answer to a question from Cr Cosford, Mr Hou-

ston said the Department of Conservation had been paying 59 per cent of the cost of the National Park dump. He said under new rules, lodges in the park were becoming rateable as their li-

cences were renewed. However as the land value was low, rates revenue would be low. The lodges could not be charged a rubbish rate as no rubbish collection was provided.