Six hundred extra tonnes of green waste were dumped last weekend at Christchurch City Council refuse stations following Thursday's storm.

At least the same figure is expected to be dumped again this weekend. A discount fee of $5 a trailer load was permitted last weekend and it has been extended until Labour Day.

The Council's Waste Manager, Mike Stockwell, told the Strategy and Resources Committee that if free dumping was allowed the tonnage would double again at the weekend.

A suggestion by Cr. Ron Wright that free dumping be allowed for Sunday only was not followed and the City Manager, Mike Richardson, said that the Council would work to assist people with real problems with trees down on their properties. "It could reach the stage where the council will have to look at some assistance," he said.

Mr Stockwell said a meeting was to be held soon to see how people with wood to dispense with could be put in touch with people who wanted it. The Parks Unit Manager, Craig Oliver, said most trees were lost in 160km winds with a combination of a high-water table. Many trees were also heavy with sap.

He said his unit would assess all trees lost and then work out a replacement programme. Although the Council's nursery was damaged there were large stocks of trees.

However, some replacement trees would have to be brought from beyond Canterbury.

The committee decided to facilitate the storm clean up by providing co-ordination between householders wanting help and groups offering it. It also authorised the City Manager to approve additional assistance and costs necessary for the city's clean up.

It also thanked all groups and organisations that helped in the storm.

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