Council considers increased charges at rural recovery parks

Increased charges at rural recovery parks, developing a plan to close the Palmerston landfill, and a review of the current user-pays collection survey could all be on the cards for Waitaki residents.

The Waitaki District Council is due to consult on its waste minimisation plan this year. The plan was last reviewed in 2012.

It released its proposed draft waste management plan 2018-24 and consultation documents this week.

Council documents note the need to address the long-term affordability of rural recovery parks - now ratepayers district-wide pay about $300,000 a year, or 85% of the costs, to run waste transfer services in Hampden, Kurow, Otematata, and Omarama - and the proposed draft plan includes increased charges for rural users.

The consent for the Palmerston landfill expires in 2027, but the council could close it sooner and "reduce costs to ratepayers until that time''.

And next year the council would survey the community to find out how many use the privately run kerbside collection services, the costs, and the value of the services on offer.

A communications plan attached to the agenda for next week's assets committee meeting indicates a proposed period of public consultation in April.