Poly Palace operator seeking compo
Poly Palace operator Richie Moore is taking legal action against Porirua City Council over a breakdown in contract negotiations.
As the council welcomed the re-opening of Trash Palace on the weekend, the polystyrene recycling operation over the road, run by Moore, was facing a grim future.
Moore did not want to say how much compensation he would be seeking, but felt terminating the relationship he had with the council was a last resort he had to take.
‘‘We have been negotiating what should have been a straight forward right of renewal of our contract for over a year, and it’s frustrating that we are where we are now,’’ he said.
Last October, Moore was happy to agree to terms, but a restructure at the council meant the agreement was not honoured, he said.
Sticking points include a desire for the depot to be open seven days, health and safety and tidiness issues at Poly Palace, and Moore putting large storage silos at the back of the property.
It is understood Moore and Porirua City Council were looking to settle on a contract worth about $60,000 for each of the next five years.
Council acting chief operating officer Euan Dempsey said council officers have concerns about the silos, which cost $12,000 to relocate from Cryovac Sealed Air.
‘‘He has been directed not to use the silos until we are confident they can operate safely,’’ Dempsey said.
‘‘We have had a health and safety adviser work with Mr Moore and an engineering firm will evaluate the mechanical and operating [of the silos].’’
Moore said the silos were the solution to the storage of waste polystyrene and a path for the growth of the business. But ‘‘consultants engaging consultants’’ about them had stalled his chance to move Poly Palace forward, he said.
‘‘The same thing happened when the council backed out of my successful waste minimisation funding application because they wanted to retain control.’’
Moore said he was the only contractor to achieve zero waste to Spicer Landfill and was recycling a material that is widely regarded as not recyclable.