Committee backs Mill Domain site

A SITE near the entrance to Mill Domain at Palmerston looks set to be approved as the location for a dump station in the East Otago township.

At a meeting of the Waitaki District Council assets committee on Tuesday, members voted in favour of a recommendation to the full council that the dump station, for caravans and campervans, be constructed at the council’s preferred location with a budget of $120,000.

Most of the money, $112,600, would be funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

The council originally planned the dump station for a site at Goodwood Rd, but a public outcry forced it to consider other options.

In October, more than 20 residents met at the site to discuss their con cerns, which led to a petition that was eventually signed by 68 residents.

The main concerns highlighted were the proposed site’s proximity to nearby houses and businesses, limited turning space on a narrow 100kmh road and the council’s failure to initially consult residents in the area.

That forced the council back to the drawing board, the result being 10 other options were considered.

The Mill Domain site, well supported by the community after a brief consultation period, was recommended by council officers because the land was owned by the council, had an existing vehicle crossing, was a distance away from residential properties, had provision for toilets to be hooked up to an existing sewer line and was close to a water supply, among other factors.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the site ticked all the boxes as far as the council was concerned.

‘‘One of the things we wanted to achieve by having this near the central business area was so the people that use those facilities [the dump station] would be tempted to spend a bit more money in the town.

‘‘We know towns with the facilities do see extra business from people with caravans and campervans. I’m pleased that Palmerston will once again have a dump station and that puts it in a position for the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association to acknowledge Palmerston as a motor homefriendly town.’’

He said the ‘‘silver lining’’ was that the project would come at a minimum cost to ratepayers.

The committee’s recommendation will be considered by councillors at a meeting of the full council on February 19.