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Council waste turned back

Tuesday 2 December 2008, 6:54AM

By Ed Ackman

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Rubbish trucks turned away.
Rubbish trucks turned away. Credit: Ed Ackman
Residents of Russell protesting the actions of the Far North District Council.
Residents of Russell protesting the actions of the Far North District Council. Credit: Ed Ackman
Residents of Russell protesting the actions of the Far North District Council.
Residents of Russell protesting the actions of the Far North District Council. Credit: Ed Ackman
Residents of Russell protesting the actions of the Far North District Council.
Residents of Russell protesting the actions of the Far North District Council. Credit: Ed Ackman

RUSSELL

It was a first for Russell, the quiet picturesque rural hamlet in Northland. Mums and dads, business owners and charter boat operators, retirees and kids - all up and protesting at 7.00am Monday morning at the local tip, in front of the entrance to this historic village.

It seems the Far North District Council, without any sort of community input or consultation, began to truck in unsorted district waste to dump with Russell’s domestic refuse. And the Council plans to send in another 1000 tonnes of this disgusting material every month!

This waste could include toxic waste from industrial areas, hospitals or just any place the Council chooses. Not something anyone would willingly agree to, and the people of Russell do not agree!

With the first truck driving off the ferry, the protesters and their vehicles blocked the entrance to the dump 7km along Russell Rd. When word of the trucks’ imminent arrival came, placards were raised and all eyes scanned the road. They expected the worst.

At 7.30 two gigantic vehicles turned the corner. Both had truck and trailer, each about the size of a swimming pool. They were stopped abruptly when a group of Russellites stood in the road, blocking their path. The apologetic truck driver, after consulting mothership, advised the assembly that he had been told to turn around and go back home. He then proceeded into town to make his manoeuvre.

A similar routine followed with the next truck, and 5 minutes later they both made their way out of town to the hoots and cheers of those who had repelled them.

Bob Drey, Chairperson of the Russell Protection Society said, “It’s not just another “not in my backyard” issue. We think it’s common sense to object to this crazy plan. The extraordinary waste and its seepage will further pollute our Bay and our little dump, which we pay to use, has a limited life even if we just use it for our own rubbish”. “

“So once our tip is filled”, commented local resident Kiki Nicholson, “we’ll be forced to ship our rubbish elsewhere. How’s that for effective refuse management?”

An hour after the trucks had been turned away, a meeting of about 80 residents resolved to initiate legal proceedings if Council would not compromise its plan. A fighting fund was arranged to meet the costs.

Hours were spent calling the Council to ask for a moratorium and discuss the situation, as it should have been discussed in the first place. Late in the day, Peter Johnson, Council’s Utilities Manager, phoned to say that Council was prepared to meet on Friday, and that all deliveries of waste would be cancelled until then.

The people of Russell are resolved to make that cancellation permanent !

For further information contact:
Bob Drey – 027 672 1885 - bob.drey@gmail.com
or http://www.rps.org.nz/