Horowhenua Landfill is a polluted mess waiting to get worse as the Horowhenua District Council take rubbish from Kapiti and elsewhere for money

Already one of the worst polluted lakes in NZ with no end in sight we also have a landfill thats getting worse not better with leachate. Does Mayor Duffy hide from his responsibilities even though he was revoted in the Oct 2013 elections.

Letter to the editor.Mike Frankin of the Levin Chronicle Publish ---- the Mayor has the lever of advertising--freedom of speech --hell no. Its amazing that the Levin Chronicle newspaper owned by APS does not publish every readers letters only what it wants to too apprease the Council as it has to. Easy to figure out as this small rag is near defunct as it is no longer a daily so relies on the Council for ad support. Sad to see but thats Levin for you. We feel sorry for Mike and his staff.

Neighbourhood Liaison Group LEVIN 22ND SEPT 2013 We need an MP with clout to change the bullshit s7(2)(i) clause. Its now a matter of procedure to exclude any public consultation used by regional and local councils…..Lake Horowhenua (Public Excluded)

In a previous election you may recall Major Duffy telling us that the “fantastic landfill” was going to bring half a million dollars in revenue to the community per annum. He couldn’t have got it more wrong. The facts are it has cost the ratepayers millions because council had to comply after the Parliamentary Commission for the Environment did an investigation into HDC’s operations. The (PCE) gave a damming report because of lack of consultation with the community and non-compliance with the resource management act.

We, as the Neighbourhood Liaison Group have tried for years to get the true facts and figures but the Council still refuse to reveal the true financials (under the commercial sensitivity clause that strangely favours international corporate interests above the public good), very frustrating for a community group trying to preserve the local environment.

Landfill’s built in permeable sand country can never contain all the toxic leachate no matter how much ratepayer’s money is thrown at them…fact. To add insult to injury two thirds of the unscreened rubbish is now imported from outside the region, something you don’t read about in the “Community Connection”.

What Mayor Duffy has been promoting has proved to be an economical and environmental mess. What a shame under Duffy’s watch Horowhenua has resorted to such third world tactics and what a legacy for future generations to live with.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL COMMENTS REGARDING THEIR SPENDING ETC YET STILL FORGET ABOUT OUR LAKE; WASTEWATER, AND SO IT GOES ON. JUST THINK IT THE COUNCIL HAD A CLEAN LAKE JUST LOOK AT WHAT TOURISM AND LEVIN WOULD HAVE. BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE A TOWN THAT CLOSES DOWN AND RETAILERS CONTINUE TO FIND IT HARD TO COMPETE.

So has Larry got a good point and is Horowhenua District Council really supportive when they meet with themselves and ignore not the minority but the majority. Rates climbing, Wastewater going back in the river and more. Tony Rush saying he doesn't know anything about what the Council will do about the Lake as they and he ignore the problem. Tony seems to qualify the Mayor's position so maybe he's in the running for the Deputy Mayoral job as we believe this is his 4th term. Perhaps too long as poor Tony is forgetting his obligations on what our Lake needs & maybe better time to go. We know what the problem is yet they are not interested.

Larry.N.Mitchell. Finance & Policy Analyst. Larry produces this league table for the 67 local authorities in NZ. It measures economic sustainability and affordability but check it out and you will get a shock at what Horowhenua District Council is doing & now wants to spew more sewerage waste in Shannon but not on their $4m farm they just bought- June 2013??.

(Local Government). PO Box 404 103, Puhoi 0951, Auckland, NZ. Ph 09 422 0598 Mobile 0274 792 328.

They are second to last as he said in Levin on the 7th July 2013. Larry Mitchell exposed the Horowhenua District Councils blatent spending spree at the Cnr Cambridge / Montgomery St Levin Hall.

Click here to download the 2nd to worst District Council in NZ---yes Horowhenua District Council has won the prize [OPEN pdf:

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Horowhenua District Council are second to last in the NZ League Council polls right above Kaipara?? so if you are in Levin on the 7th July at 2pm come and listen to Larry Mitchell speaking on the District Councils financials etc at the Salvation Army Hall, Durham St. See why the Council has featured so favourably in the Council polls; near last. Are they heading for last place or will they somehow creep up the polls without anyone knowing. Join the meeting on the 7th July & find out just what is happening--- of course Council will attend if they remember the date but it would be nice to see them voice their opinions to the questions put forward???? If they don't then you know they show no interest or are mummed in speaking so remember this when you vote.

Blame can not be put on Mayor Duffy solely as without the likes of Horizons etc Lindsay Burnell, Nathan Guy & Malcom Guy, DOC these are the ones who must share repsonsibility and they have had many years to support the Council and done nothing plus they have the resources to help restore this Lake. Duffy knows what the problem is but would rather leave to a defunct Accord who have achieved little in their first year.

----- Forwarded Message -----

Subject:

Larry Mitchell's response to Brendan's comments

From: Larry Mitchell <larry@kauriglen.co.nz>
To:
Sent: Thursday, 27 June 2013 9:10 AM
Subject: Mr Duffy and the Chronicle "piece".

I strongly object to Mayor Duffy's characterisation in this weeks Horowhenua Chronicle, (at least by association and inference) of my being one with "distorted and ill-informed" views. I particularly take exception to his statement that I deal in untruths.

All of these statements are merely his unfounded opinion reached without any consideration of the evidence that I will put to next week's meeting. In spite of an offer to attend he has made no contact with me to take the opportunity to reach a reasoned informed position on the matter of the Council's finances.

I would like you to distribute these comments widely and I will refrain from any direct contact with the Mayor meantime as a result. You might add to any response/publicity that he and the others are invited (again) to come and see for themselves the facts, perhaps to organise a special briefing and then get set to face the consequences (recovery plans) of a truly grim state of Council financial affairs.

--
Larry.N.Mitchell

Finance & Policy Analyst (Local Government)
Host/Proprietor "Kauriglen" Puhoi's only Country Lodge.
email to larry@kauriglen.co.nz
NZ web site http://www.kauriglen.co.nz/
NZLG web site http://www.measures.net.nz/
Frontier web site http://www.fcpp.org/
PO Box 404 103 Puhoi 0951 Auckland NZ
NZ land line 64 09 422 0598
NZ mobile 64 0274 792328
skype: larryave

Now why doesn't the Domain Board take on board what the following said for us Maori owners namely Sarah Williams report.

or the report from Horizons: Horizons Regional Council confirmed in 2008 Lake Horowhenua was contaminated by Levin's waste water treatment plant during winter flooding. Compliance manager Alison Russell [ File report from Fairfax media with the Levin Mayor saying nothing ]:

Horizons Regional Council confirmed in 2008 Lake Horowhenua was contaminated by Levin's waste water treatment plant during winter flooding. The results were not unexpected, compliance manager Alison Russell said. Earthworks were done around the swollen ponds to reduce contaminants entering surrounding groundwater, surface water and the lake. However, nitrogen, which is highly soluble in water, can leach easily through soil, Ms Russell said. "There was a zone of nitrogen leaching apparent in lake waters in the vicinity of the Levin STP [sewage treatment plant]." The effect was difficult to quantify because Lake Horowhenua constantly had extremely high nitrogen concentrations, Ms Russell said. The lake already suffered from eutrophication, as serious environmental concern throughout the country. "Consequently, any increase in nitrogen leaching into the lake waters has the potential to increase the risk, duration and frequency of toxic algal blooms and other eutrophication effects in lake Horowhenua," Ms Russell said. Samples taken from the lake near the plant on September 4 showed high levels of E coli, which confirms faecal contamination occurred. But the lake would have still been within safe swimming guidelines and Horizons' Proposed One Plan, an environment proposal covering air, water and land objectives, policies and rules, Ms Russell said. Total nitrogen exceeded the Proposed One Plan standard for the lake and soluble inorganic nitrogen was elevated. Both nutrients were significantly higher at incident sites compared with reference sites away from the plant. Incident samples were compared with water quality data from different sites, which are tested monthly for state of the environment purposes. Horowhenua Mayor Brendan Duffy would not comment on the results as he had not seen them. - © Fairfax NZ News

The meeting set for Sept 22nd never eventuated--no notification to owners?? If its not the Lake its our Landfill but read on as the Mayor is back in his seat for the next term. Some good new councillors on the Council.