Recycling to proceed

CARALISE MOORE

 

Winstone Aggregates has gained a non-notified resource consent to run a recycling plant at the former Laminex particle board factory in Kumeu.

The Access Rd plant will accept commercial, industrial and demolition material such as wood, wallboard and cardboard for recycling.

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, and operate from 7am to 6pm every day.

The Rodney District Council's decision not to publicly notify the application was made in line with its district plan, council customer service director Lloyd Barton says.

"The effects of the resource recovery centre have been assessed as being the same or less than the effects associated with the previous use of the site."

Mayor Penny Webster says it is fantastic news for Kumeu and the wider region.

"This is going to see around 20-30 new jobs being created in the local community," she says. "It also involves a New Zealand-owned and operated company employing world-leading technology to recycle building materials in a sustainable way."

Winstone may have a public open day at the plant.

"That shows a real openness and willingness by the company to include the local community and a move that should be welcomed by all," Mrs Webster says.

"I encourage people to avail themselves of this opportunity.

"They should have a look around for themselves and find out exactly what is planned – rather than relying on rumour and ill-informed opinion."

Kumeu Huapai Residents Society's Chris Welch says Kumeu and Huapai residents are unimpressed.

"We are very disappointed. The council displayed total arrogance against local residents," he says. "Many wrote to the council requesting public notification, but they chose to make decisions behind closed doors. It's morally corrupt."

Council resource consents manager Ian Dobson says the council received community comment on the application before the decision.

"That was taken into account and addressed," he says.

"For resource consent applications, we assess the application to find if it would generate effects that would be more than minor. We assessed affects from the particle board factory and the proposed recycling plant, and compared them."

Mr Barton says the new facility will have less impact than the particle board factory.

"The new facility will use the existing buildings on site and will have significantly less truck movements than previously," he says.

The site is currently zoned special five – particle board. The resource application was for a non-complying activity in the zone.

But Mr Welch says residents believe the zone is out of date.

"It was originally granted in 1972, when the area was completely different than today," he says.

"They are using those standards to justify the application today.

"The recycling plant is unsuitable for the site. If you're looking to develop the area as light commercial and countryside, this doesn't fit.

"We had an understanding that we would be recognised and involved in the development of our area. But this shows us that we are not. They refused to talk to us."

Mr Dobson says the council considered the surrounding zones and felt the application took that into account.

The society's major concerns revolve around the possibility of increased noise, pollution and traffic.

Mr Barton says the site is well screened by an existing landscape buffer which will be retained.

Mr Welch says: "Situations like this make people think the Rodney District Council is well overdue to go. Bring on the super-city – it can't be any worse than this."

- © Fairfax NZ News