Greymouth dump cleared but mayor fears disaster
By local democracy reporter Lois Williams,
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has lifted the abatement notice it served on the owners of a private dump near Greymouth, saying it now meets national standards for a landfill.
But Grey mayor Tania Gibson says the Taylorville Resource Park – sited directly above the intake for Greymouth’s water supply - is still a disaster waiting to happen and should be closed.
“If there’s a major slip or an earthquake - it doesn’t bear thinking about what would happen. The enormity of this keeps being played down,” she said.
EPA investigators issued an abatement notice on the dump’s owners after they found it was leaching contaminated water from an unlined sediment pond.
The authority was asked by the West Coast Regional Council to step in as an independent investigator after the Grey District Council challenged the WCRC’s handling of resource consents for hazardous waste at the site.
The EPA’s investigations manager, Jackie Adams, said the extensive work needed to bring the landfill up to national standards has now been done.
“[Taylorville Resource Park] had to empty the existing pond and build a new, lined storage facility.
“This has now been completed and recent water samples taken from the area show that contaminated water is no longer being discharged from the site.”
The EPA’s investigation was now concluded and its intervention was at an end, Adams said.
“Ongoing regulation and monitoring of the site remain the responsibility of the regional council."
But Gibson said her council was a long way from being convinced the Taylorville site is safe.
Although the Grey District council had issued the original subdivision consents for the landfill, it had not been informed when the Regional Council had consented it for hazardous waste, the mayor said.
“We were not considered an affected party – unbelievable. We’ve got tonnes of toxic material - building materials, coal tar, paint, sitting directly above our public water intake that supplies 10,500 people, schools, hospitals."
The Grey District Council would continue paying for additional independent tests of its water which came from a bore at the Taylorville site above the Grey River, Gibson said.
So far tests had not found unsafe levels of any potentially harmful substances in the town’s water.
“But we will keep paying for tests – if anything happens we want to be able to say as a council that we did everything we could to prevent it.”
Taylorville Resource Park has been approached for comment.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?
Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.
Do you think it's inconsiderate for people to have lengthy phone calls on a bus? Vote in the poll, and add your comments below.
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64% Yes
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33.7% No
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2.3% Other - I'll share below
Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz
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