Media Release: Friday 16 September 2011

Community Board Response on Proposed Earthquake Debris Recycling Station in Papanui

Residents have expressed concern to their local community board about a proposal from an international disaster response, demolition and recycling company to use a site in Papanui as a temporary earthquake debris recycling station.

The Shirley-Papanui Community Board received a deputation from residents, who were concerned at a proposal from Ceres Environmental to establish a temporary waste transfer station on a site in Cranford Street, which would process earthquake related debris.

At the Board meeting the views of residents were given and a representative of Ceres Environmental provided some assurances around possible effects of the proposal and undertook to consider the views expressed at the meeting.

The Board agreed to provide Council staff with the residents’ concerns. The Board also decided to advise that its preference was for the matter to be considered as a notified resource consent, rather than under the provisions of the Canterbury Earthquake (Resource Management Act Permitted Acidities) Order 2011, to ensure that residents had the opportunity of expressing their views.

The Chairperson of the Shirley Papanui Community Board , Chris Mene said,

“The proposal for the waste transfer station came to the Board at short notice as the application was made under an Order in Council, which enables temporary activities to be considered within a short time-frame. The Board is very keen to ensure a decision making process is used that allows concerns such as those raised at our meeting, and also the view of the applicant, to be heard.”

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