Dump issue stirs Orautoha action

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 666, 10 December 1996, Page 3

Dump issue stirs Orautoha action

Views and information from a newly-formed group representing Orautoha residents should be taken into account by the council officers •eparing the resource consent application for the Orautoha ransfer Station, the Waimarino Community Board deded last Thursday. The board made the recommendation after considering i update report which outlined options for the station as ell as issues involving costs and general rate funding. The group was formed at an on-site meeting held hursday morning which was attended by Taupo member f parliament Mark Burton, some members of the Ruapehu listrict Council and Waimarino Community Board, and :sidents. Deputy chief executive Chris Ryan said any help from le group would be accepted by council staff "in the spirit 's given". tommunity unanimous The report outlined two options for adapting the plans >r using the dump site, which is unanimously preferred by :sidents over the alternative holding paddock site. Environmental asset manager Suzienne Slegers said ldependent professional advice showed that a sight disance of 65 metres would be acceptable, whereas previusly council officers interpreted the rules to mean 80 letres would be needed. . One option involved creating a new access north of the ite, which was estimated at $34,600; while the second nvolved re-aligning the existing access plus bank trimning and seal widening, which was estimated at $ 1 5,000. V station at the holding paddock site would cost $9,660. Member Gary Rawnsley criticised the report, saying the :osts were "mind boggling" and that the new entrance :ould have been built that day "with a few shovels". He aid $1200 would be sufficient. \ "I think the community board is being misled with these ostings. The costings are extravagant and the community :an't afford what I consider to be bungling." "If you can bid for the work for $1200 done properly,

your tender will be gladly received," said Mr Ryan. Funding Ms Slegers outlined concerns regarding funding of the station if sited at the old dump. "Under council' s policy ... the establishment of transfer stations is funded from the general rate," she stated. "It was not envisaged that the general ratepayer would be required to fund proposals involving extraordinary costs where an alternative with a significantly lower cost was available," she continued. "The estimate to establish the transfer station at the current site utilising option two is significantly in excess of both the estimated cost to establish the site at the holding paddock and the budget." "It may well be that in light of this experience, the council will have to revisit its funding policy to limit its funding exposure to the value of the most economic option, with the difference being funded at the local community' s discretion." Member Bob Peck was angry that an independent commissioner had been appointed to consider the consent application without notifying councillors or the board. Deputy chief executive Chris Ryan said the council had delegated such authority to the CEO "for ages" and had not notified councillors in past cases.