Southern Squall

Otatara will get a meeting on Invercargill’s controversial three-bin recycling scheme after mayor Tim Shadbolt’s just-finished three-bin poll was criticised for muddling people into confused conclusions.

The council today decided to have a special meeting with Otatara residents worried about how the proposed recycling system would affect their rates.

The Otatara Community Group told councillors some wanted to know how much the scheme would cost them and why it was likely to be compulsory.

Mayor Tim Shadbolt said his just-completed telephone and newspaper form survey showed many had strong opinions on the scheme, and that the council had to do all it could to ask and listen.

But Cr Alan Dennis said he did not think the mayor’s less than scientific poll asked the right questions, and that it may even have encouraged people to make contrary decisions while cementing ill-informed views.

One question asked whether people felt well-informed about the proposal, and whether they were willing to spend $100 to get it. It was a double-barreled question – which were respondents answering?

Either way, it was obvious that some councillors at their meeting today wondered how much stock to put in the mayor’s numbers.

Here’s how the numbers stacked up according to statistics released by the mayor today:

Question 1: I feel well informed about the 3 bin system and accept the $100 per annum extra cost on my rates (Yes 282 (form, amended from “no” during the meeting) No 58(phone))

Question 2: I would like more information (Yes 160(form) 12(phone)

Question 3: I support the 3 bin system but believe it should be voluntary (Yes 113(form) 13(phone)

Question 4: I would prefer a 2 bin system as presently proposed by the Southland and Gore DCs (No 124(form) Yes 16(phone))

Question 5: I am totally opposed (Yes: 365(form) 161(phone))

Mr Shadbolt said it was obvious speaking to those who called that many people had very firm views on the controversial proposal. Some felt they’d not been given enough information and that some were disappointed some of what they were told was wrong.

For example, council information suggested it’d cost $100 extra a year. However, residents in the likes of Otatara and Makarewa would pay closer to $250, because they don’t already have a council-led service.

To his detractors, Mr Shadbolt said he’d never argued that it was a scientific poll, and that he’d prefer a professional poll was conducted. Claims by Cr Geoff Piercy that the poll was electioneering were wrong: seizing such a divisive issue would not win an election.

Cr Lindsay Abbott suggested the council consider what it’d spent on newspaper adverts championing the 3 bins system. The $10k it may have spent might’ve been better spent on a better poll.

Cr Jackie Kruger said she was strongly opposed to spending more cash polling a complex issue. Consultants and industry insiders should be consulted to ensure everyone had enough information to make an informed decision.

Cr Piercy challenged Cr Kruger, saying there seemed to be a suggestion that staff had not been upfront with councillors. They’d consulted industry – including Joe’s Bins, whose business may be affected by the scheme – and they’d been open on an issue which needed to be determined to meet a zero waste to landfill target and costs imposed by central government.

He bristled when Cr Lindsay Thomas suggested sending green waste to landfill, where it could be converted to fuel, would be carbon neutral. The councillor simply did not know his science, he said.

Cr Norman Elder said the council had to show leadership. A poll might give data, but it was up to the council to make the brave decisions needed to change the habits of 200 years.

Mr Shadbolt said those decisions should come after more work, including looking at why Christchurch and Timaru didn’t like a 3 drawer option, where exceptions to a compulsory system might be made, and how bin removal businesses might be protected from council competition.