Waste on the council’s agenda
Waste was the hot topic at last week’s Stratford District Council Policy and Services Committee Meeting.
The council received five submissions on the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, with submissions putting forward a range of ideas for the Council to consider.
A recycling facility for the small township of Whangamomona was requested in a submission from Brent O’Sullivan and Tracey Haskell, who pointed out recycling waste wasn’t just from the township’s residents, but also from the tourists who visit the area.
“A recycling process could take the pressure of the rubbish disposal facilities at the top of the Whangamomona and Tahora saddles. ln keeping with our image of a clean, green New Zealand, we request that the council consider the provision of a refuse recycling facility in the town of Whangamomona, for the use of the community, and the everincreasing numbers of travelling tourists. There may be areas of land within our community, administered by Council, that could be utilised appropriately.”
The submission asked council consider a bank that takes glass and plastics. The request received support from Councillor Rick Coplestone, who said Whangamomona was an important part of the district, as it brought tourists to the area.
“They’re a gateway to our district. A lot of people come in that way, they stop there. That’s a lot of waste, and it’s tourists’ waste.”
Coplestone said the actual cost to Council would be from the transport costs, saying supervision of the facility would be done by locals who were willing to get involved in volunteering at any potential depot.
As a service for Whangamomona is already scheduled in the waste minimisation plan to begin in 2020, the committee asked council officers to investigate the possibility of implementing the service earlier.
A submission from the Whakaahurangi Community Marae asked council to consider a request to increase the number of red bins to two more and to consider collecting their recycling bins with the Council recycling collection.
Currently the marae has one red bin for general rubbish, which is the same as residential properties received.
Historically, churches, marae and other, similar community organisations have been given the option to use this service as well, although they are not a residential property and should use a commercial provider.
Mayor Neil Volzke said he felt the marae provided many services to the community, such as hosting tangi and other events which led to larger amounts of rubbish being left there.
“They can’t charge their users for this, so they are left with the cost themselves.”
Councillors agreed that rather than bend the current rules to make an exception for the marae, Council officers should instead be asked to investigate other ways of assisting the marae in meeting the costs associated with the rubbish collection.
With the changes to the draft plan noted, the committee adopted the plan to go before a full council meeting for final approval.