One-dump plans in doubt

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 574, 21 February 1995, Page 1

One-dump plans in doubt

Plans to use the Ohakune dump as a long-term southern Ruapehu District landfill may have to be dropped and alternatives sought, according to a report to be considered by the Ruapehu District Council at the meeting this Friday. In his report to the council, environmental assessment manager Tim Mills outlines a number of potential problems with using the site for dumping the southern Ruapehu's rubbish. He states that the land the dump is on was taken under the Public Works Act 1967 and that members of the local Iwi told a recent meeting that at the time a promise was made to restrict the final height of the landfill. It appeared this promise had not been adhered to, he said. "The underlying issue of the Tangata Whenua is that they wish the land to be transferred into their ownership immediately, and indicated a willingness to lease back to the council for its future operation as a landfill for a period of up to 10 years," he stated in the report. He said further negotiations with the Iwi would be required.

"The outcome of these negotiations may affect the short-term use of this facility," he said. An option considered, rather than layering refuse on top of the existing fill, was toextend the fill out, but problems with this were also possible. The land-buffer between the dump and the river would be reduced, the natural wetland treatment of leachate would be lessened and costs of obtaining additional land use and discharge consents would be "substantial". "Council has initiated negotiations with the Department of Defence at Waiouru Military Camp and Winstone (Pulp International Ltd)," states Mr Mills. These negotiations included the options of combining resources during the resource consent process and the possibility of forming a joint venture to operate a southern landfill." He said the Defence Department declined Council' s offer to combine resources, but did receive a favourable response to continuing negotiations concerning a joint venture southern landfill operation.