Media Release 15 September 2011

Demolition Dump Plans Keep Residents in the Dark

Papanui residents kept up the pressure yesterday in their fight to stop an American company setting up an earthquake demolition waste dump and processing plant in their neighbourhood. They were joined by the principal of local Paparoa St school. Door knocking earlier in the day revealed most local residents knew nothing of the plans.

At the local Community Board meeting residents laid out their concerns. Local spokesperson David Moorhouse said “We acknowledge the demolition needs to happen and look forward to the reopening of the Central Business District. However there already suitable sites that can process the demolition waste and we repeat that this industrial activity does not belong in any local community surrounded by schools and homes.” He noted that “claims by the applicant that the site would speed up CBD demolition were incorrect as the Burwood Resource Recovery Park (BRRP) could handle all anticipated demand.”

More information about the proposed plant emerged at the meeting. Local spokesperson George Kear noted “that trucks will not be able to exit the site and return down Cranford St. Instead they will return to the city via Main North Road and Papanui Road creating more noise and disruption on an already congested thoroughfare”

The meeting also discovered that there will be no effective checks on the number of truck movements. The application specifies a maximum of 350 trucks per day and the site is expected to attract large quantities of waste as it intends to undercut the BRRP on dumping fees.

Mr Moorhouse said that “once the site begins operations there is no way to monitor and prevent any excess truck journeys over the permitted maximum. This makes the figures in the application a mere box checking exercise and a farce.” He added the “applicants are not providing local residents with all the information they have. Residents have a right to ask for honest answers”.

Assertions by the applicant that the operation will take place well within the site boundary were dismissed by the community as irrelevant. Mr Kear said “teachers and parents at the local school are worried that excessive noise levels from the concrete crushing and other activities will interfere with children's learning.” He added “The kids don't need any more distractions after a disrupted school year.”

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