Submissions open for Canterbury landfill proposal
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The public will get to have a say on a controversial proposal to build a landfill in North Canterbury.
Christchurch firm Protranz Earthmoving Ltd has lodged resource consent applications with Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council to establish a managed fill landfill at its quarry at White Rock, near North Loburn.
About 100 White Rock and Loburn residents attended a public meeting in February and have since formed an incorporated society to organise their opposition to the landfill proposal.
Those concerns led to the Rangiora-Ashley Community Board making the decision in July to prepare a submission against the landfill.
Board chairperson Jim Gerard said at the time community board members had decided to stand alongside the local community, who were concerned about the risks to groundwater and the local Karetu River.
Earlier this month, the Waimakariri District Council approved $10,000 funding towards the community board’s submission, allowing it to seek professional advice, such as an independent planner, legal advisor or other technical expert.
The quarry will be for the disposal of building and demolition waste, and contaminated soil material.
The two councils have jointly notified the consents, with submissions closing on October 9.
Two consent applications have been lodged with Environment Canterbury for land use, water permits and discharge permits.
The application to the Waimakariri District Council is for vegetation clearance within waterway margins, earthworks for the formation of a managed fill landfill, a bridge structure within a waterway setback and increased rates of mineral extraction.
The company has also applied to operate a managed fill landfill, construction of stormwater outfalls, earthworks and material storage associated with quarrying and landfill construction.
The application includes an assessment of the environmental effects.
Protranz general manager Shaun Coakley said his company had requested the consents be publicly notified.
‘‘We knew the development of critical infrastructure such as a managed fill landfill would attract attention from the local community, hence our decision to voluntarily publicly notify.
‘‘Whether by providing additional information that clarifies their issues or collaborating to establish consent conditions that mitigate their concerns, we're committed to an open dialogue.’’
White Rock residents are planning to gather at the Loburn Domain at 9.30am this Saturday, to carpool into Rangiora for a protest.
The protestors plan to march through Rangiora, before gathering outside the council chambers.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
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49.2% Yes
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48.9% No
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
Rangiora school’s Te Whare Mātauranga aims to boost arts, culture
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School is investing in arts and culture with a new learning whare, as the principal looks to support a growing community.
The school’s much anticipated Te Whare Mātauranga (house of learning) is due to open in term four, while a community performing arts centre is also proposed.
The Government has told schools to focus on literacy and numeracy, but acting principal Remihana Emery, himself a maths teacher, said there was still merit in arts and culture.
The $1.2 million, multi-purpose Te Whare Mātauranga is being fully funded by the school’s board of trustees.
‘‘The whare is waiting on some minor things to be completed and we are hoping to open it in term four,’’ Emery said.
‘‘It is a great investment for the school and the community.’’
The 171 square metre whare has an ‘‘imposing’’ frontage, and will be used for cultural and community events.
It will have a multi-use cultural and teaching space equivalent to 1.5 classrooms, a wet room / dining space and a huge 51m2 north-facing verandah.
The teaching space will be big enough for 35 students.
As an auditorium, it will seat 65 people, while 30 could be seated in the dining room.
The whare is located on Wales St at the northwest corner of the school grounds, facing Mt Grey.
Board of trustees presiding member Simon Green said the school worked closely with Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga in planning the whare.
‘‘We are really pleased with how it is coming along.
‘‘Our intention is for every student to spend time in the building during the year and to understand the significance of it.’’
He said the school’s Māori department will move into the new whare building, which will mean moving it back on to the main site rather than being housed in an old prefab across the road.
A sub-committee has been formed to develop a proposed 800-seat performing arts centre / auditorium which is likely to cost $10-12 million.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Head for bed
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