Kaiteriteri residents and holiday-makers will be making do with weekly rubbish collections this summer, after the council has decided to bin the daily collections of previous years.
However, some residents are concerned that this will leave the picture-perfect area with an unsightly peak-season problem.
Since 2007, the holiday destination has been serviced by daily rubbish trucks and weekly recycling collection for the eight bumper weeks from late December through to mid-February. This was to cater for the sudden population boom, with bach owners and visitors descending to enjoy a summer break at one of New Zealand’s most beloved beaches.
Kaiteriteri’s permanent population is about 440, with the town attracting tens of thousands of visitors over the summer.
However, the Tasman District Council has given Kaiteriteri ratepayers notice that this year, their services will remain in line with the rest of the district, with weekly rubbish and fortnightly recycling collections.
TDC’s stormwater, rivers and waste team leader David Stephenson says this is projected to save the council $30,000.
However, some residents are concerned that the change will result in rubbish bags left lying around the kerbsides “for days on end”.
Kaiteriteri’s Guy Johnston is one of only four permanent residents out of the 24 houses on his street, and he says that if it is the same as previous years’ peak seasons, there was going to be a lot of rubbish every day that needs collecting.
“A lot of people are up in arms, as you can imagine.”
Simon Marks, who owns one of the 20 properties that neighbours Guy’s, says that he is concerned the council will be left with a bigger mess to clean up, with rubbish bags being torn into by wekas and dogs.
“What I think they’re proposing is to remove a solution and leave a problem.”
His family stays at the bach for several weeks over the summer, with BachCare taking care of, and renting out the property in his absence.
He says the changes will be hard on the many out-of-town landlords, no matter how good their instructions to their short-term guests.
“People will just leave the problem at the gate.”
A rubbish “cage”, such as the one at the bottom of their street, works fine in the low season, “but it’s only got a finite capacity,” Simon says.
When questioned about whether the TDC had discussed changing the services from daily to several times a week, David responded that this was briefly considered.
However, “weekly rubbish collection is what we offer all over the district – even in other busy holiday areas like Pōhara and Ligar Bay, and if a weekly service isn’t suitable for people, then it’s unlikely that a twice a week service would be either”.
He says it’s best that people find a way to hold their rubbish for the week or arrange for a private wheelie bin service.
The council’s letter to affected residents notes that several local contractors offer such services in Kaiteriteri.
It also highlights the option to drop rubbish and recycling at the Māriri Resource Recovery Centre.
“We do see some problems with wekas getting into bags, especially in Kaiteriteri.
“Our contractor will clean up where bags have been broken and some owners have built cages or bins, which helps a lot.,” David says.
“We’ve contacted property owners and companies that manage holiday homes to let them know about the changes.
“We’re asking them to make sure that their tenants and customers keep the bags on site until their normal collection day or arrange for a private wheelie bin service.”
The daily rate used to be funded via a targeted rate for Kaiteriteri, but David says that this was stopped from 2015 as it was deemed uneconomic to collect.
“Since then the additional cost for daily rubbish collections at Kaiteriteri have been absorbed into the kerbside rate.”
David says that traffic congestion was not a factor in the decision to change the pick-up frequency, as the trucks are generally on the road early in the morning.
The Guardian would like to hear feedback over the summer, email sara@topsouthmedia.co.nz with any comments.
