Greymouth public meeting

Friday 10 November

Waste policy

We need to look overseas for models on how to address tourism waste issues in low rating base areas.
Funding is needed from the tourism industry to address waste issues. Gisborne cannot pay for it as it has a small local rating base. Nothing will change without funding.

Legislation is needed as well as a mandatory reduction of waste via product stewardship. It cannot be voluntary.
A national levy is needed on imported cars to address the issue of dumping of cars.

The current approach to climate change is not supported. We should do what the Europeans are doing. More focus on efficiency is important.
Climate change should be seen as economic opportunity, not a negative/catastrophe situation.
Not enough is known about what government policy is as present to know if it going in the right direction.
There is support for the negotiated greenhouse agreements (NGA) approach which would make company more efficient irrespective of the carbon credits.
Information on climate change mitigation needs to focus on what the benefits are for people in order to get their interest. TV ads illustrating how you can save money through participating in mitigation would be useful.
Initial cues in newspapers directing people to further information could work
There is very little information available on sustainable buildings.
Active education programmes in schools would be great – focussing on what children can to mitigate
Financial incentives such as payment for feeding back into the national grid would be good.

Tourism waste is the main waste management issue. Who pays? The tourism industry is not engaged in the issue.
Central government needs to look at how to manage the effects of tourism. There are huge benefits to the country but there are also significant effects on the environment.
A “National Park” levy collected from tourists was suggested to deal with the effects of tourism.
The proposed waste levy is not supported because the Coast would not benefit because of a lack of population. A population based levy does not suit areas with small populations.
Regional economic development should be an important government function. Coal and gold is exported but there is no added value on the coast. More funding needs to come back to the Coast from royalties.
There is support for product stewardship. Producers have to be responsible for production through to disposal of products, e.g. glass bottle returns.
Incentives are needed for people to do the right thing with waste.

Gravel build-up is making flooding worse. The lack of a government subsidy for river protection works has caused problems on the West Coast.
Engineers should be in control of rivers. DOC stewardship land along rivers is leased for grazing, or sold then developed for more intensive grazing – then farmers want protection from flooding.
DOC and regional councils should work together on flood protection.

Awareness of energy usage is needed. Incentives should be provided for using solar power.

Water for fire fighting is stored in an abandoned coal mine. How should the RMA work in this situation? Emergency works provisions could be used or the regional plan could provide for this in the future.
The responsibilities for management of abandoned mines on West Coast are unclear.

Last updated: 27 February 2008