'Incompatible use' not reason for Raetihi chiller decision

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 255, 20 September 1988, Page 3

'Incompatible use' not reason for Raetihi chiller decision

An application to relocate a game chiller to an address in Duncan Street, Raetihi was turned down by the Waimarino District Council last week.

The reason given was that the operation of a game chiller in a high density residential area

was an incompatible land use. Two objections to the proposal put for-

ward by Mr T.D. McFadyen were received. They were from solicitors acting on behalf of a neighbour, C.E. Reid, and from the Housing Corporation of N e w Zeaiand who are the landlord of a row of

flats neighbouring the applicant's section. The objections given by the Housing Corporation were that "noise, smell and visual pollution to a residential environment, plus an increase in possible vehicular movement and activities which have the potential to disrupt such an environment." A representative of the corporation added to the objection that he had stayed at the Taihape Hotel where a similar type of chiller operated and that he had experienced great difficulty sleeping. He said the Housing Corporation flats were often occupied by families with young children and that such a land use would not suit with such neighbours. Mr McFadyen said the flats referred to were the scene of loud parties every weekend and that the noise from the parties "goes on and on and on". "I can't see that a little bit of noise from a chiller is going to come close to the noise of those parties," said Mr McFadyen. He also said there were "quite a few back yard businesses i n Raetihi" that the council was not awarc of. He said about a dozen hunters would deliver game to the chiller, al-

ready gutted, and that carcasses would only be washed down at the site. One truck visit per week would take place to take away the game, he said. Mr McFadyen was willing for the Health Department to decide whether the washing effluent should go into the sewers or into a soak pit. A councillor asked if any of the flats' present residents had objected, to which the answer was no. However, Mr Burton of the Housing Corporation said that tenancy of the flats changed regularly and that in his experience the people living in their flats did not object until the problem was there and then "hounded" the corporation for something to be done. Mr Burton said the need to locate the chiller at the site was for mere convenience and that this was not enough to approve the application. He said ihe disadvantages to the adjoining residents would by far outweigh the advantages to the applicant. Approval would also create the possibility of extension of activity, said Mr Burton. In discussing the application councillors pointed out that while the old site was in a residential area i t

backed onto rural land, and was a very different site. Mayor G a r r i c k Workman said the area in question was a far morc densely populated area. Cr Sue, supported by planner Ted Fox, said chillers were, in his experience almost always untidy, "with grass growing high around them and bits of meat hanging o f f them". Cr Sue said the ap-

plicant had not given sufficient reason for the application to be successful. "He's given us nothing to go on," said Cr Sue. Cr Trebilcock said there were many sites in Raetihi that were more suitable. Councillors also expressed concern that allowing the use in such a dense residential area would set an awkward precedent.