Quake dust worry | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Residents living near Bottle Lake Forest are urging authorities to better manage the dumping of earthquake rubble.

They are worried that dust and the constant throng of heavy trucks to and from the Burwood Resource Recovery Park, where most of the city's earthquake rubble is going, will make their lives a nightmare.

The Burwood-Pegasus Community Board has asked residents to make formal submissions to Environment Canterbury outlining their concerns.

The recovery park was established to help speed up the removal of an estimated 4.25 million tonnes of rubble from demolition sites where it would then be sorted, processed and recycled. Up until now rubble from demolitions had been sent to the old Burwood Landfill and three other smaller areas of the surrounding Bottle Lake Forest since the quake. Now park operator Transwaste is seeking resource consent to install separation equipment and a new landfill. The application has not yet been filed.

Burwood-Pegasus Community Board chairwoman Linda Stewart said she supported expediting the clean-up process but felt regulations needed to be put in place to minimise disturbance to already shaken residents. She said the board would be making a submission to Environment Canterbury outlining concerns and suggested solutions.

"We're trying to get the best deal for the residents who have had more than enough challenges. This proposal will go ahead whether we choose to submit to the hearing process or not. I think we should support the objectives of this consent application but strive to protect our communities by submitting a sound but productive submission," Ms Stewart said.

She is pushing for regulations to be put in place, including that the trucks use the ring road to minimise disturbance to residents.

"It is quite reasonable to request that contractors exit the ring road to Marshlands/Prestons Rd and not use Burwood Rd.

"This will need the Christchurch City Council's support by way of a submission to allocate roads that may or may not be used by contractors.

"To make this enforceable, this falls under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority legislation and I will be seeking their support by way of submission also," she said.

Other issues identified include noise, air quality, health and safety, heavy vehicles on residential roads and hours of operation.

Ms Stewart said to help prevent the spread of dust the board would recommend that trucks be covered and the landfill have "geotechnical lining" to keep the water table safe.

Ms Stewart said she had contacted nearby residents groups, including Parklands and Waitikiri, who had both indicated they would also make a submission.

Now she is calling for other "affected parties" to also have their say.

These include Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (TRONT) and any relevant Papatipu Runanga identified by TRONT, the Canterbury District Health Board, Queenspark Residents' Association and owners and occupiers of land adjacent to the Burwood Resource Recovery Park.

HAVE YOUR SAY: What do you think about a new landfill and separation unit at Bottle Lake Forest? Send us your thoughts in 150 words or less to caroline.king@starcanterbury.co.nz. Include your full name and suburb.