Horovgenua District Council voted not to reopen the Levin landfill, which was closed in 2020.
photo: Supplied / Catalyst Group
A Horowhenua district councilor says the area is facing huge costs now that it has finally voted to close the controversial site.
The council voted not to open the Levin Landfill near Hokio Beach, but instead to consider other uses for the site.
It was closed in 2020, despite an agreement to continue operating, after years of controversystream pollution and the area nearby.
In addition, consulting work will cost the council $7,500 in 2020, increased to $895,000 by May 2022.
Councilor Sam Jennings said the vote “feels both good and bad”.
“While many people are happy with this decision and there are some positives, it is not really a good outcome for the wider community or their bets.
“Now we will probably send all our waste from our district to another community at great expense.”
From 2020, waste is trucked to a fully lined landfill near Marton.
Trying to make up for that by finding other ways to make a profit at the Hokyo site will be difficult because local residents have been very resistant to any type of waste activity, Jennings said.
Mayor Bernie Vanden said the shutdown was an “incredibly significant” decision that took a long time.
“This is a historic decision for Horowhenua that will affect generations to come.” Vanden said in a statement on the board’s website.
It was “significant”, said Rachel Selby, a member of the project management team for the Hokio tip and representative of Ngāti Pareraukawa.
“This is a decision we have been waiting for for more than 20 years.”
Glad now consultations with local residents on your waste minimization plan.