Ohakune and Raetihi dumps to be improved

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 576, 7 March 1995, Page 3

Ohakune and Raetihi dumps to be improved

Contracts have been awarded for major works to improve the operation of the rubbish dumps in Ohakune and Raetihi, by the Ruapehu District Council. Both sites will have similar work carried out, involving the construction of embankments surrounding the sites and new access road and tip head areas, stated the council in a press release on Friday. All refuse is to be deposited within the area enclosed by the embankments and will be progressively covered away from the tip head. The contractor for the Ohakune work is TPP Contractors Ltd and for the Raetihi work is Jilesen Contractors Ltd, both Taumarunui based. When the work is completed the existing maintenance contractor, EE Sue & Son, will carry on with the work. The modifications should be completed by the end of April, stated the council. There have been fires recently at the Ohakune and Raetihi sanitary landfill sites which the council believes to have been deliberately lit. "The Council is committed to not having fires at any of its landfill sites and has arrangements with the maintenance contractor responsible to have the fires extinguished as soon as possible," stated the council chief executive. In the case of the Raetihi site the fire was not reported for a considerable time after it was started and consequently was costly to extinguish. A 24-hour phone service is available for the public to report fires at the landfill sites by calling the listed Ohakune or Taumarunui office numbers.