1631 days ago

Changes Ahead For Council

The Waste Minimisation Act (2008) requires Councils in NZ to have a plan to divert waste from landfill, with stated outcomes. Despite this, the amount of waste going to landfill in NZ is high. We are the tenth worst producers of waste in the world, at an average of 3.6 kg per person, per day. Given that we produce around 300 gms of waste every two to three weeks at our house, there are obviously people producing a lot more than 3 kg.
Shortly, the Government will announce an amendment to the Act which sets targets for diversion of waste which Councils must meet. Fines will be imposed for those councils that do not meet their targets. Given the lip service that KCDC pays to waste minimisation and its preference for closing recycling centres, its highly likely that KCDC will fail to meet these targets. As well, their attitude toward paying such fines or legal fees is remarkably cavalier. They seem to see it as part of the job description. I cant say I'm comfortable with my carefully budgeted rates, that I send to KCDC every fortnight, being used to pay fines because they cannot take waste minimisation seriously. They are neither sincere or genuine in their concerns regarding management of waste, greenhouse gases and climate change.
Want to hear more? Come along to the public meeting on Sunday at 3.00 pm at the Waikanae Beach Community Hall, Rauparaha St Waikanae Beach, just down from Longbeach. We'd love to see you there.

More messages from your neighbours

1 day ago

Driven On The Akatarawa Rd Lately?

Marie from Waikanae

If so, its good to know you are still alive and reading this.

We have a function to go to over Christmas up that way and having heard a few hairy stories about the road, I went up there on Thursday to check it out. The road's ok, narrow and winding, but not much worse than a Wellington hill suburb. What was pretty scary was the behavior of other drivers. Three vehicles heading the other way at speed would have crashed into me if I hadn't been pulled off the road. I had pulled in to check the address when a truck came flying past, taking up all of the narrow road at speed. There is no way the driver would have been able to stop had they come around the corner immediately in front of me. The other two drivers came hurtling past as I had turned in to turn around and come back down the hill. They were also driving at speed and taking up most of the road. Coming back down I passed another car coming up and estimate that the safe speed to pass another car was about 30-35 kms.p.h. So, now we're thinking, do we go to the function or not.? Feels a bit like we're taking our life in our hands going up there. Drivers appear to be overconfident, and they are courting serious injury.