Odour and vermin some of concerns raised about landfill

PENDING: The decision on Midwest Disposals Ltd resource consent application will be known in three weeks. PHOTO/ BEVAN CONLEY 220315WCBRCMAR10

The commissioners considering resource consent application for the Bonny Glen landfill expansion have concerns about odour, ground stability, landfill size and vermin.

They also want owners Midwest Disposals to keep the Marton community better informed.

Following last month's consent hearing in Feilding, commissioners listed concerns including site stability, that the odour emitted from the dump would not get worse, the height of the landfill and its visibility to surrounding property. It also wanted strong controls on vermin. The commissioners said the landfill was part of the community and "we consider that there is a need for much better communication between the applicant and the community."

Midwest had promised to set up a community trust and the commissioners asked for more information as to its purpose.

In its right of reply Midwest said a minimum of $15,000 a year (adjusted for inflation) would be put into a community trust "for the purposes beneficial to those people whose principal place of residence is within the immediate vicinity of the Bonny Glen landfill".

It also included South Makirikiri and Turakina schools as organisations which could benefit from the fund. Midwest has also agreed to create a community liaison group which would include people from neighbouring properties.

On odour, Midwest said restrictions including the size of the exposed landfill face, daily cover and enclosed leachate storage would help.

The landfill height remains in dispute. Midwest wants the maximum landfill height to be 160m but "will accept the lower RL153m height if the Commission decides RL153m is more appropriate".

Commissioners have 15 working days from last Friday to make its decision.