Levin Landfill to remain open as viable community asset

Horowhenua District Council intends to keep the Levin Landfill open as a viable asset in the best interests of the community.

A review of the resource consent for the landfill on Hokio Beach Road is currently being carried out by Horizons Regional Council at the request of the Hokio Neighbourhood Liaison Group, which is calling for the landfill to be closed. This is despite Horowhenua District Council receiving fully compliant status for the landfill operations.

Horowhenua District Mayor Brendan Duffy says Council is aware of the issues raised by some members of the public regarding the landfill, including claims about odour and the effects of leachate entering an open drain located on an adjoining property which flows into the Hokio Stream.

“Council has an opposing view on most of these matters, but those matters within the scope of the consent review process will be addressed through the hearing process.”

Mayor Duffy says there are also “unwavering views” by some of the Hokio Neighbourhood Liaison Group members wanting Council to stop accepting waste from the Kapiti Coast District.

“The fact is we simply cannot keep the Levin Landfill running and financially viable without accepting waste from Kapiti,” he said.

“It would otherwise result in a burden to Horowhenua ratepayers. If Council closed the landfill, we would still need to spend considerable amounts of ratepayer dollars on capping and environmental monitoring of the landfill, as well as loan repayments, for at least the next 30 years.”

Also, Mayor Duffy said if the Levin Landfill was closed then Council would need to send all of the District’s waste to the Bonny Glen Landfill in Marton.

“This would likely cost between $800,000 and $1 million per year. We would also lose the profit component from the landfill which essentially subsidises the district’s recycling and transfer stations. This is equivalent to approximately $500,000 per year. Therefore, the Solid Waste rate for an urban ratepayer would increase 469% in the first year, from $23 to an estimated $108, increasing the overall rate by around 5%. We just can’t do that,” he said.

“The best option is to keep the Levin Landfill open, continue to receive waste from Kapiti and keep the landfill a viable asset.”

Mayor Duffy said there is also no request to change the volume or type of rubbish to be dumped at the Levin Landfill.

ENDS

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