Gisborne public meeting
Tuesday 7 November
Waste policy
Recycling, reuse and community
- Concerns were expressed about the lack of retreading of tyres.
- Is Tyre Track coming along well?
- Tyre Track helped local landfill operators obtain tyres to use as landfill construction material.
- The local waste transfer system does not cope with large waste disposal. The Tyre Track programme is in force at landfills. Tyres absorb hydrocarbons and are an asset to landfills. Plastic containers can be shredded for disposal at landfills.
- Incentives should be provided for waste minimisation.
- Communities can learn from other communities. If waste is treated in a cost effective way within the main community then waste minimisation/ sustainability will occur. Look at individual communities before making national decisions and giving directives from Wellington.
- There needs to be greater support for other uses of waste – so that things are going to energy, not to waste.
- ZOL plastic containers are not recyclable. A collection service is wanted.
Hazardous waste management
- Where can oil be recycled? There are no collection points for waste oil due to the risks. It is too hard to collect waste oil legally and also too expensive under the RMA. The cost of ensuring steel tanks are compliant with the RMA is expensive.
- Agrichemical containers should be the producers’ responsibility. Companies that used to sell these products should be responsible for disposing of some of the waste otherwise the consumer absorbs the cost.
- In Gisborne wastewater continues to be pumped into the Bay due to cultural concerns about other disposal methods. A bio trickling system similar to that in Hastings is suggested.
- Wastewater levies will fall on the consumer. There is concern about wastewater entering the environment. How can this be recycled, e.g. used to grow bio fuels, and who will pay?
- Wastewater could be treated to use for irrigation instead of using fresh water.
- Reuse wastewater but also find alternatives for clean water. Do not waste the resource. Land based disposal with new systems is minimal. Irrigating wastewater into forests is a good idea e.g. Rotorua.
Product stewardship
- Encouragement and support is required from the RMA to make product stewardship happen.
Education and information
- There is strong demand for more guidance on beneficial uses of waste to assist communities to deal with their own waste. We need to make it easier to find uses for waste e.g. wood, waste to energy.
Waste levy
- The Council is opposed to waste levies.
General comments
- National leadership is needed to support local waste management initiatives.
- Fly-tipping is an issue. Landfills need to be cost efficient to prevent fly tipping. The focus should be on finding alternative uses for waste.
- Waste is a local issue and a local solution is needed. One size does not fit all.
National Environmental Standards
Air quality
- A major effort is needed to provide waste facilities for rural areas so they do not need incinerators. Effectively managed transfer stations are a potential solution. These should be staffed by paid employees, not volunteers as they need to be well run and frequently serviced.
- There is some disagreement about whether there is an air quality problem in Gisborne. There is a big agrichemical spray drift issue in the area from vineyards. Burning backyard rubbish is a big rural issue, including burning plastics which may result in dioxin contamination of agricultural produce.
- Burn pits are often near sheds where stock are kept and grazed before going to meat works. Emissions from burning rubbish could contaminate meat and block New Zealand exports to Europe. This should stop farmers burning plastics.
- Stock should be tested for dioxins and organic chlorines.
- Emissions standards for vehicles should be considered.
Water
- How will we work with landowners and communities to improve water quality?
- National standards for fresh water are wanted.
- Standards should consider Maori concepts for water (wai mate and wai ora), bacterial contamination, and residues from agricultural spraying.
- A standard was suggested for roofs which are used for collection of drinking water to stop agricultural spray drift contaminating drinking water (e.g. to specify the maximum amount of contamination that can be allowed on a roof used for water collection).
General comments
- A wider process is needed for people to work together to solve problems, rather than the current adversarial style.
- MfE should start doing educational programmes with industry, landowners etc (RMA training model) to get people working together.
- Invest in human capital to improve natural capital.
- A cooperative approach is needed rather than an adversarial approach. Farmers and land owners should work together.
- The Maori Kaitiaki model is good but needs to be translated into other cultures so that it is inclusive of the values of other cultures.
- Local government does not favour consultation.
- Better rural waste management practices are needed. Funding is required. A partnership between local government, Federated Farmers, rural communities, and central government is needed.
- It is difficult to retain appropriately qualified staff in rural areas and at the less well funded councils. Secondments of MfE staff to councils were suggested.
- Councils need sufficient expertise to implement legislation.
- Recycling of electronic waste, including batteries, is wanted. A national electronic waste strategy is needed.
- A collection system is wanted in Gisborne for products that can be re-used (e.g. unused paint).
- An understanding of civic processes should be included in the school curriculum, including an understanding of participatory processes and the need to get involved.
- Farmers use Roundup and then graze sheep on dying grasses. Roundup is not tested for in sheep meat. Greenpeace Germany advised they are prepared to test for any agricultural contaminants (including surfactants in produce).
- PVC produces dioxin in house fires. PVC should not be used. Prevention is better than the cure.
- Life cycle product standards should be considered so consumers can get information on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production of items.
- Each individual should be allocated a standard greenhouse gas “allowance’ to with credits/debits for those who under/over use.
- There are no procedures or requirements for helicopter pilots to verify coordinates when spraying. This results in damage from aerial spraying to protected vegetation (protected management areas). There is no monitoring or inspection so this happens all over Gisborne. It is hard to take action. Private citizens try to get investigations enforced by the council but not no action is taken by the council. Better enforcement and monitoring by local government is needed.
- There is indiscriminate use of chemicals for clearing native vegetation.
- There is concern about the disposal of chemicals. What happens to chemical waste? Where do hazardous chemicals and chemical waste end up?
Water
Flood risk management and catchment management
- Subdivisions are continuing to be development but with a lack of drainage.
- The Council is now looking at requiring platforms for buildings in flood prone areas. The Council is also tackling storm water issues.
- There is a need for a combined approach across departments to integrate planning
- There is high demand for lifestyle blocks. These often end up on high water table areas.
- Responsibility falls on land owners and the council.
- There is potential for more planting of riparian areas to prevent loss of habitat in waterways
- There is a need for a catchment strategy for the waterways in Gisborne.
Climate Change
- Land owners need clarification around broad based carbon charges.
- What are the options for setting a minimum area to be planted with trees in patches across a property?
- Government should be looking at having more flexibility in policy to deal with uncertainties around climate change.
- The protection of groundwater systems has important climate change implications.
- There is potential for more K Line irrigation but this has not taken off in the district.
Education and information
- There is a need for more research on Gisborne’s water ways e.g. ecological research.
- DOC could be involved. Funding is needed to undertake research. The time and effort in submitting FORST funding applications is significant.
- Council is identifying areas for funding.
General comments
- Is there potential for air standards to address spray drift from pesticides?
- More integration is needed between government agencies.
- Some support from Crown is needed for ongoing costs of the district’s wastewater system and upgrade.
- There is a desire for clarity around the outcomes of the East Coast Forestry Project.
- One size does not fit all in terms of water allocation.
Climate change
General comments
- What message does the RMA give? Few people can prevent development.
- We need to recognise that over time, the environment will recover.
- Government needs to look at educating people about the realities of the forestry sector i.e. long term benefits.
- A change in attitude is required if we want to combat climate change.
- Why is the government allowing coal to be exported?
- Broad based carbon charges are the way forward.
- Clarity is needed around carbon credits.
- Government need to look at overall benefits generated through the forestry sector.
- Government needs to educate the community.
- The RMA hinders the forestry industry.
- “Retrofitting” needs to be made more publicly assessable. The current system is not user friendly.
- Government needs to be careful when regulating and consider the impact that it has on families.
- The public needs to be educated about energy consumption.
- Government needs to clean up New Zealand’s vehicle fleet.
- New Zealand needs to become proactive regarding climate change.
- Government needs to give a direct message to the public to reduce CO2 emissions i.e. through a carbon tax.
- Government needs to provide fair incentives to landowners to promote the planting of forests.
- The “Raimal Woodchips’ system needs further investigation.
- It is hard to gain government funding for new or alternative forms of farming.
- Questions around who gets what funding from FORST.
- Government needs to look at how New Zealand meets future energy demands.
- Research is an important component that will assist New Zealand meet challenges currently associated with agriculture.
- Government needs to look at providing economic incentives around forestry.
- Government needs to become proactive in regards to energy consumption.
- Landowners with Kyoto qualifying forests (those planted post 1990) should be allowed to benefit financially.
- Broad based carbon charges should be introduced so that all emitters of greenhouse gases face the same costs.
- We need some support from the Crown for the cost of the district waste water upgrade.
- Clarity is needed from MAF and Treasury on the ECFP Review.
- We are participating in the water allocation debate but feel very strongly that one size does not fit all.
- Our major is a member of the National Committee on Storm and Flood events and climate change.
General interest
General comments
- Local solutions to erosion are needed, including a new rule in the district plan to require permanent cover.
- MAF support planting through the East Coast forestry project.
- Central government should ensure that support is available for land owners once the district council has notified a rule in the plan.
- Treaty negotiations should focus on environmental restoration and improving the health of the land, and creating true partnerships with tangata whenua.
- Environment restoration programmes could utilise local youth to create employment and raise awareness.
- Government funding is needed for long term investment in environmental quality.
- The input of volunteers needs to be recognised.
- Targeted funding should be provided for local projects. A local tax should be used to fund measures to mitigate the impacts of local development.
- Central government should work with forestry companies on the discharges and impacts of plantation forestry and harvesting. Forestry industry guidelines should be provided.
- Central government should support organic farming, recognising the associated reduction in environmental impacts.
Water
- Alternative methods for discharge of wastewater to land need to be researched. The costs of land based treatment are very high. There is a need for central government support where local communities cannot afford the desired treatment.
Last updated: 27 February 2008
