Residents oppose dump station
A MOTOR caravan dump station proposed for Palmerston has been criticised by a gathering of local residents who oppose the location selected by the Waitaki District Council.
The proposed Goodwood Rd dump site, which would allow the emptying of motor caravan septic tanks on a councilowned road verge, was opposed by 27 local residents, who met at the proposed dump station site yesterday.
The landowner on the boundary of the proposed dump site, John Elliott, said that he was not consulted by council staff before the road verge dump site at 1190 Goodwood Rd was nominated as the favoured site.
Residents were opposed to the site on safety grounds as it was in a 100kmh zone, there was limited space for turning and the road was narrow in places, Mr Elliot said.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the proposed location was chosen as it was easily accessible and would also ensure visitors spent money in Palmerston.
The site would be ‘‘low key’’ and have a concrete pad, he said.
He confirmed council staff now intended to talk to people in the area about the dump site and said the council should have talked to the nearest property owner.
Palmerston resident Heidi Thomson has produced a plan for an alternative dump station site beside the town centre’s toilet block, a site that was not considered by the council.
Other sites in Palmerston which have been considered are the railway yards, former railway land in Stour St, Copinsha St near the war memorial, the corner of Runbrake and Brough Sts and the Palmerston domain and showgrounds site.