Orautoha rubbish — Council's view

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 614, 28 November 1995, Page 4

Orautoha rubbish — Council's view

• Mr Oliver, in his letter ( Ruapehu Bulletin, 21 November), makes statements that are in error as to fact and notwithstanding his experience as a Community Board member seems to misunderstand the role of the Community Board. The background to this matter is that the Waimarino Community Board, at a meeting held on 5 May 1994, considered a Draft Solid Waste Management Strategy for the district. That strategy document made specific reference to the Orautoha Landfill, the need for its closure, and the proposal for the establishment of a transfer station on that site. The Board resolved to receive that strategy report and limited its comments on the issue to the matter of cost and the impact of those costs on the rural ratepayer. One of the prime roles for a community board is to assist and facilitate council's consultative process with its communities. The board members are elected from within those communities and are expected to be able to advise council on matters. In this instance consultation took place with the community board. No change was recommended and the strategy was implemented via the Annual Plan for the 1994/95 year. Once again that process was subject to a formal consultative process involving the Waimarino Community Board. The issue attracted no comment at this stage either. The matter of a change of location was first raised when Mr Oliver made a formal submission to Council dated 22 August 1994 that the proposed transfer station be established at one of two alternative sites suggested by him. No action was taken on that submission and Council proceeded with the agreed strategy and continued to plan for the establishment of the transfer station on the existing landfill site. Mr Oliver then raised the matter again at the Waimarino Community Board meeting held on 6 October 1994. I must also note here that Mr Oliver' s letter contains errors as to fact in terms of what decisions were taken at that meeting. He urged the Community Board to recommend an alternative site. I have referred to the minutes of the Community Board and they make no reference to a resolution in the form described by Mr Oliver. The resolution actually adopted by the Community Board recommended to Council that the Orautoha Transfer Station be placed at the Orautoha Holding Paddock instead of the existing Orautoha Landfill Site. The Board did not resolve to seek a further report on the matter. The Council accepted the Community Board's recommendation as it was soundly based and varied its agreed strategy accordingly. Turning to the matter of Council' s obligation to comply with the Resource Management Act 1991, Council was entirely within its rights to treat the consent process as nonnotified. The site was inspected by a council planner to identify the adversely affected parties. The nearest house was in excess of 0.5 kilometres away . Given the very small size of the facility, no adversely affected parties were identified. Further, the effects on the environment were determined to be very minor. For that reason the decision was taken to treat the application as non-notified. That decision is both reasonable and rational when considering all of the circumstances. Mr Oliver' s concept of the use of the provisions of the Resource Management Act as a means of community consultation is an interesting one. The Act, however, was not drafted for that purpose but rather to address the issue of the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. It is difficult to understand the logic of Mr Oliver' s statement that the Council has failed to consult with the community and has failed to follow through on its agreed strategy. Mr Oliver lobbied strongly for the change and was successful. Now that the decision is proving unpopular, he appears to be trying to shift blame and distance himself from the issue.

Chris

Ryan

Deputy Chief Executive