Recycling plant battle

BY CARALISE MOORE

It will be out with the old and in with the new at a Kumeu industrial site if Winstone Aggregates gains a resource consent.

The company has applied to the Rodney District Council for consents to operate a commercial recycling plant at 116 Access Rd, the same site where a Fletcher particle board operation was running until it closed in June last year.

The application is for a plant which involves the delivery of commercial, industrial and demolition materials such as wood, gib-board, metals, plastic and cardboard for sorting and recycling.

It says any non-recyclable material, including hazardous material, received will be separated, stored, handled and disposed of off-site in appropriate landfills.

Materials will be delivered to the site and taken away by heavy commercial vehicles with up to 60 vehicle movements daily. The centre will employ up to 25 people.

The application has the Kumeu, Huapai Residents Society concerned, because it suggests the consent is not publicly notified "as it does not have adverse effects on the wider environment that are more than minor and no neighbour is adversely affected".

The association’s secretary Chris Dunn says the council may not even publicly notify the resource consent – a decision the council has yet to make.

"It could get pushed through without consulting residents – it would be a disaster for the area," says Mr Dunn.

The council has until Tuesday, February 16, to make a decision whether the application should be notified.

Major concerns revolve around the possibility of increased noise, pollution and traffic.

Mr Dunn says the particle board factory was bad enough.

"It’s going to be even noisier there with building material being crushed."

He fears processed debris could include concrete.

"Air pollution and dust from concrete cutting could have a catastrophic effect.

"The application shows the plant will run 7am till 6pm, with 52 truck trips during daytime and eight overnight. Winstone say that amount is less than the particle board operation, but neighbours say it is far more. We don’t know where they got their numbers from."

Homes, an early childhood centre, a vineyard, school and recreational spaces surround the site, which is on the border of an industrial and recently zoned countryside living zone.

The issue will be discussed at the Kumeu/Huapai Residents and Ratepayers Association meeting tonight at the Kumeu Community Centre at 7.30pm, which will also discuss the supercity.

Information, contact Chris Welch on (09) 412-8474 or email crw218@gmail.com.

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