From the Wanganui Chronicle 25 March 2015
“The commissioners considering resource consent application for the Bonny Glen landfill expansion have concerns about odour, ground stability, landfill size and vermin.
They also want owners Midwest Disposals to keep the Marton community better informed….”
Read the article HERE
Posted on MARCH 20, 2015 Written by
“How many times is too many times before the general public realizes that microwaves are inducing severe weather?
Today, March 19 2015, a strong detection of damaging winds, and a detection of a possible strong tornado forming in the foothills East of Kirtland Air Force base in Albuquerque New Mexico….” read article at SOURCE
NOTE: If you were skeptical about the reality of modified weather, this article is excellent, providing links to verify claims. As I’ve written elsewhere here, check out also, climateviewer.com for a comprehensive timeline of the practice of weather modification. It is very real. Before dismissing it as a hoax, as the herd is inclined to do, do the research for yourself. Those trails that criss cross our skies are not as is claimed, vapour trails which should dissipate within minutes. They are emissions from geoengineering aircraft that ultimately thicken in haze and block out the sun. Read more about the history of weather modification at the geoengineering page on this site.
After an entire decade, Horizons is demanding answers from the RDC on its non compliance regarding the Marton Waste Water Treatment Plant. Why has it never issued a penalty all this time?
Read the latest Wanganui Chronicle article on the leachate issue HERE
“Nestlé is draining California aquifers, from Sacramento alone taking 80 million gallons annually. Nestlé then sells the people’s water back to them at great profit under many dozen brand names.
By | March 20, 2015
The city of Sacramento is in the fourth year of a record drought – yet the Nestlé Corporation continues to bottle city water to sell back to the public at a big profit, local activists charge.
The Nestlé Water Bottling Plant in Sacramento is the target of a major press conference on Tuesday, March 17, by a water coalition that claims the company is draining up to 80 million gallons of water a year from Sacramento aquifers during the drought….”
Read at the SOURCE (mintpressnews.com)
Further evidence regarding the ‘climate change’ scam.
This is not a long article and it illustrates yet again the dangers of this product, dangers it seems nobody wants to consider going by our persistence here in NZ (and elsewhere) in using it: WHO Declares that Glyphosate Herbicides Probably Cause Cancer -assessment is by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) -IARC reached its decision based on the view of 17 experts from 11 countries, who met in Lyon, France, to assess the carcinogenicity of 5 organophosphate pesticides. -The IARC’s assessment of the 5 pesticides is published in the latest issue of The Lancet Oncology. (LINK TO LANCET PROVIDED) LINK TO ARTICLE http://sustainablepulse.com/2015/03/21/who-declares-that-glyphosate-herbicides-probably-cause-cancer/
This is disturbing; from the naturalsociety website:
“Pepsi One and Diet Pepsi drinkers lost a battle against the GMO supporting company, Pepsi Co, recently when a federal judge dismissed a class action lawsuit over the carcinogenic additive, 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI) found within the beverages.
The substance 4-MeI is a byproduct of caramel coloring, and it has been proven to cause cancer in multiple scientific studies. The Coca-Cola Company previously eliminated the chemical from its drinks, while Pepsi Co did not….”
Consider boycotting them.
Read more at: http://naturalsociety.com/federal-judge-protects-soda-companies-dismisses-lawsuit/#ixzz3UzRYkxaP
Follow naturalsociety at: @naturalsociety on Twitter | NaturalSociety on Facebook
Hunterville local, Marjie Brickley turned a grassy railside patch into a beautiful wonderland of colour. She and late husband Ralph started 20 years ago by simply planting cuttings from their own garden across the road. This is a real before and after transformation … undertaken primarily by herself … Marjie was widowed soon after they started. She was even chosen as the New Zealand Gardener magazine’s Manawatu-Wanganui Gardener of the Year. Her garden is now a popular attraction for travelers passing through and for locals. View Marjie’s beautiful garden HERE
As previously reported here, RDC has failed to meet consent conditions for all of a decade, and Horizons has failed to deliver any penalties. Now Horizons, according to this latest article by the Wanganui Chronicle, has written to the RDC (after 10 years?) asking why it has been consistently breaching.
“Horizons has written to RDC seeking a formal explanation as to why it is consistently failing to comply with ammoniacal nitrogen standards and what steps it is taking to ensure this matter is addressed. A response was to be provided to HRC this week. A Horizons spokesperson said it was received.”
So ten years pass, and all of that time, it has been quite within the power of Horizons to deliver some kind of penalty regarding these breaches, and now it is asking questions? Closing the gate long after the horse has bolted. You can read the actual compliance/non compliance reports at this link.
In December we had RDC saying there would be a report on why at the end of January. Here we are in mid March with still no real answers.
NOTE: CLICK ON THE ARTICLE TO ENLARGE
From the District Monitor, time is said to be required regarding this issue.
12 March 2015 I attended the Marton Community Committee meeting last night where Mayor Andy Watson was present, and raised the historic issue of there having been both missing and non-compliant leachate reports. This was not regarded as an unusual occurrence and in the bigger picture, neither it seems is the state of our water ways (whatever that may be given the Chronicle report prior to Christmas indicated that was difficult to guage , given reports were missing). I did express the irony of this given Horizons was mandated with protecting our environment, clearly set out in their website banner.
As regards the in-stream biota survey and the fact one had not been done since 2002, it remains unclear as to whether there will be another done to assess the health of our local stream, in spite of the fact that the consent required one every three years. I was advised by Mayor Andy to notify himself, the CEO and the Councillors by mail to further this matter.
To date, as at 20th May 2015 nobody has acknowledged my email. Ironic isn’t it that one is encouraged to communicate on’es concerns on a matter to the council via its community committee, only to be told at that meeting, to email the matter to the very persons one is speaking to at that meeting about the concern.
~ EnvirowatchRangitikei ~
11 March 2014 Here is the latest from the Chronicle (Wanganui) regarding an outcome and the submissions hearing regarding Midwest Disposals’ landfill at Bonny Glen near Marton.
In the hearings I attended the independent commissioner chairing the proceedings, said, ‘When the consent …. if the consent is granted ….’ He quickly corrected himself by adding, ‘ Of course there are no guarantees…’ or words to that effect. My life experience tells me that this is as near to a Freudian slip a person can get. Basically he is saying what is really in his head. I’ve written to three editorial columns now about this fact and none have printed my emails. Well two haven’t, we’ll see on the third as I only sent it this morning’. (An hour ago, still not approved).
This is a sign of the times I believe. Big business is in bed with government in terms of money & profits, and any rhetoric about protecting our environment, are probably mere window dressing. I’ve been reading increasingly that there has to be a compromise between maintaining the economy & considering the environmental effects of industry. Very convenient with a loose directive like this. Who is really policing it? Certainly with the Marton evidence to date, the RDC & Horizons appear to have been in collusion. If they’re not, then why have Horizons not meted out some kind of penalty for the RDC’s negligence resulting in pollution of our waterways? For NINE years? (See previous articles here on the Tutaenui Stream’s pollution by leachate by going to ‘categories on left side of site page).
So no, I’ll not be a bit surprized ‘when’ the consents are granted. The hearing will allow the company in question here to concede to provide some of the needed mitigation of damage … and the locals will be left to complain accordingly should the fallout they suspect will continue to happen … continue to happen. And should you have problems getting through to Council, just go to the Community Committee Meeting, and Council may accept their recommendation … or they may not … as Mr Hamish Allen discovered when he tried to raise the leachate issue in the first place.
Here is the Chronicle article anyway… and watch this space as I will be writing further about the ‘independent’ commissions & who comprises the panels.
Whilst geoengineering has been dubbed a hoax or a conspiracy theory by many, at least do yourself the favour of researching it for yourself. The science of geoengineering has been researched and practiced for decades.
Geoengineering is the practice of modifying our weather. For a timeline of how weather modification has been developed visit http://climateviewer.com/geoengineering/ It is well documented. The slang term often used for these trails left by the aircraft is ‘chemtrails’. Bear in mind this is the term used in the US Space Preservation Act 2001, HR2977, Sec 7, (2) (B) (ii), defining them as an ‘exotic weapons system’.
NZ’s former Minister for the Environment, Hon Amy Adams said this about geoengineering:
Thank you for your email of 21 March 2014 to Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman regarding aircraft emissions. I am replying on his behalf to the second part of your email as the issue you raise falls within my portfolio as Minister for the Environment.
Geoengineering is a theoretical concept that would involve the manipulation of the earth’s environment to make the effect of climate change less severe. Aerosol engineering, the spraying of aerosol particles into the upper atmosphere to cool the earth, is a proposed geoengineering method.
The Government does not allow aerosol geoengineering and although it is the subject of some discussion in the scientific community, it is not an accepted method to address climate change. The best option is climate change mitigation – reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases – and the Government is working with other countries to develop an international agreement to achieve this.
I would like to assure you that there is no deliberate spraying of the nature you suggest and that the health and well-being of New Zealand citizens and our environment are a high priority for this Government.
Hon Nick Smith, current Min for the Environment, and also Amy-Adams’ predecessor, said in Parliament (amidst gales of laughter) that geoengineering was a hoax.
We have an official change of tack here.
Here is a record of geoengineering activity over the Rangitikei region in New Zealand for January 2015. These trails are visible most days in their various manifestations.
For more information on geoengineering visit HERE
Soundtrack is by Saru G
‘Old School Saru’
A reminder here of a corporation’s bottom line…..(from Bloomberg) “Companies have a duty to their shareholders and they’re responding logically to the incentives in the system, Kennedy said. “Companies are strongly driven by the need to increase shareholder value, and especially any public company has to meet market expectations,” ……”
And remember Kiwis, your country is a corporation … corporations are not about people and their general well being, they are about profits, profits, profits.
“Eight of the biggest U.S. technology companies added a combined $69 billion to their stockpiled offshore profits over the past year, even as some corporations in other industries felt pressure to bring cash back home.
Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc., Google Inc. and five other tech firms now account for more than a fifth of the $2.10 trillion in profits that U.S. companies are holding overseas, according to a Bloomberg News review of the securities filings of 304 corporations. The total amount held outside the U.S. by the companies was up 8 percent from the previous year, though 58 companies reported smaller stockpiles.”
Read the article at its SOURCE
From Professor Jane Kelsey, a press release dated 13 August 2014. NZ has a protest day tomorrow 7th March against the TPPA. Still everything is top secret and warning bells are continually being sounded as to what will be in store should this agreement go ahead. It is being negotiated on our behalf without our consent. Visit the website …itsourfuture (links on the TPPA page) to discover your nearest organized protest and do attend if you can
The Article:
“‘Effectively, the US claims the right to decide what a country’s obligations are under a trade and investment agreement and refuses to bring the agreement into force in relation to that country until it has changed its laws, regulations and administrative processes to fit the US interpretation’, Professor Kelsey explained.
Statements from members of US Congress and the US Trade Representative (USTR) suggest prime targets for New Zealand would be our copyright and patent laws, the foreign investment vetting regime, the procedures by which Pharmac operates, and Fonterra’s ‘anti-competitive monopoly’.
‘The other eleven governments are aware of the certification process and many are concerned. But no one has told the public how the US can effectively redraft our laws.’
Professor Kelsey has co-authored a memorandum that draws on the experience of countries that have been subjected to the US certification process in recent years.”……
“‘In other words New Zealanders, including MPs, might never know that the US was involved in writing our laws and demanding the right to sign them off even before Parliament gets to see them’, Professor Kelsey warned.”
Read the rest at the SOURCE
(NaturalHealth365) “Since 1996, when genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were first introduced, we have seen a dramatic rise in the rates of food allergies, autism, reproductive disorders and digestive problems. Of course, companies like Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta – which own approximately half of the entire proprietary seed market – would have you believe that GMO dangers don’t exist. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth……..
One of the biggest lies connected to GMO technology exposed Agricultural technology corporations, like Monsanto, continue to push the notion that the use of GMO seeds will reduce the need for toxic chemicals in farming. Yet, in the past 5 years, due to the development of weed-resistant crops – farmers have been required to spray more herbicides on their fields – in an effort to kill the weeds. This is having a devastating effect on our environment and human health”. – See more at the source:
28 Feb 2015 The Wanganui Chronicle has reported on the submission by Mr Allan. Commissioner Brent Cowie has said it was a waste of everyone’s time. Not surprizing given they had taken, this along with the other important issues like land values and truck nuisance effectively off the table. Not a word by Mr Cowie on the fact that the submission is very damning of Horizons and the RDC. The submission provides documented evidence of total negligence in their care of the Rangitikei waterways, in particular the Tutaenui Stream. If you have not already, you can read Mr Allan’s full submission, including all of the reports that were made available at his request, (many were missing). Many show non compliance and yet the RDC have received little more penalty from Horizons than a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket. The reports are uploaded onto the Rangitikei Environmental Health Watch website. Judge for yourself if they have not been very remiss in their responsibilities in caring for the environment as the Horizons website claims they do.
I attended the hearings the day of Mr Allan’s submission (and would have gone every day were it held in the actual home of the proposed extended landfill). Cr Soraya Peke-Mason slammed this decision early in the piece. One could be forgiven for thinking the whole process is mere window dressing for an already foregone conclusion/decision. One of the independent commissioners made a glaring Freudian slip during the proceedings, saying …. “once the consent … well if the consent is granted”….. One would hope the local people will take this matter up with Council & Horizons “once the consent is granted” because nobody else is going to. Not even these independent experts who purport to care for the environment.
Read the Chronicle article HERE
From Radio Live NZ … Winston Peters is warning about the repercussions in store if John Key signs NZ on to the TPPA.
“The big corporations are so close to governments, not only in New Zealand, that they have handed over many details of the Trans Pacific Partnership while the public in the negotiating countries are kept in the dark. These corporations are about to get unbelievable powers over New Zealand if the PM keeps his favourite hat on.
The treaty will be signed by the National government, not by Parliament.” Read Article at SOURCE
Check out what the TPPA entails & why you should be involved in opposing it (ideas about how, HERE). Raise awareness in your community, attend the day of protest coming up on March 7th (details & links on the TPPA page here).
From the ZME Science website….by Mihai Andrei
Not something ‘necessary’ at this point in NZ with its wide open spaces, however, inspiring nevertheless for those high rise city dwellers who want to get started growing their own food. It is very do able.
“We’re replacing food that was being grown in Mexico or California and shipped in,” explains Penny. “We feel like the community’s really ready for a project like this. Everybody’s so much more aware of the need to reduce transportation, and people like to know their farmer and where food’s coming from.”
“Indeed, by growing your food directly in the city you save money (and reduce pollution) on transportation; you also save a lot of time and effort too….”
On February 24th Hamish Allen, a Marton resident, presented a submission to the panel on a topic that is not considered to be part of the consent hearings. (For a background to the consent applications to quadruple the size of the Bonny Glen landfill go HERE). Neither, as was pointed out prior to the hearings, were property values or trucks. Ironically, since these are the very concerns which automatically arise when a neighbouring landfill announces plans to quadruple in size. Nevertheless, Allen’s submission concerns the leachate that is disposed of through Marton’s Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and has been for nine or so years (deemed the RDC’s concern, not Midwest Disposals’) . This has been, rather than a formal arrangement on paper … a ‘gentleman’s agreement’. The levels have been poorly reported and only sporadically tested with many non compliances, as Allen’s submission demonstrates. He has supported his submission with documented evidence. There have been by all appearances, no penal consequences issued by Horizons for these failures in compliance by the RDC. Following is Allen’s submission which outlines the history of how the Marton Community Committe (MCC) of which he was a member at the time, tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to address this in 2011. There needs to be accountability here … as Allen points out in his submission
‘there can be no economy on a dead planet’.
The consistent placing of economic interests over the environment is NOT sustainable. The very principles our regional authorities are purporting to pursue … “Maintaining and enhancing our Region’s land, water, air, coast and habitat protection” (from Horizons’ website) … are being held in flagrant disregard. These electedrepresentatives need to be held accountable. You can assist with that process by attending the Marton Community Committee Meetings and lodging your objections there:
| MARTON COMMUNITY COMMITTEE |
|---|
| Location: Youth Club, Centennial Park Pavilion, Humphrey Street, Marton |
| Wednesday 11th March 2015 7.00 pm |
At the end of the submission below here, the original compliance and non-compliance reports will be available to access by this weekend, 28th Feb 2015. Any inserts of photocopied evidence within the submission can be clicked on to enlarge.
READ ALLEN’S SUBMISSION HERE
WATCH FOR THE ORIGINAL COMPLIANCE REPORTS WHICH WILL BE UPLOADED TO THE SAME PAGE THIS WEEKEND …. 28TH FEB 2015
It has been reported to http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz by many NZers that they have been told by representatives of their power company that there is a government deadline for electricity meter replacement by April 1 2015.
This is NOT true.
What the Electricity Authority (EA) regulations state is that meters need to have a current certification at that time.
If you live in a relatively new home (built during or after October 1999) your electricity meter will be certified up until and beyond April 1 2015….
Read the rest of this important update from Katherine Smith at the stopsmartmeters NZ website …. HERE
Other Updates
The link below describes how serious heart problems (that required multiple medical investigations) began after the installation of a smart meter and ended after the smart meter’s modem (which produces the microwave radiation) was disconnected to deactivate it.
This is a FREE online symposium that includes information that will be helpful to people who are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) as well as those with other health problems including chemical sensitivities, food allergies etc. please check out this link and share it!
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/environmental-sensitivities-symposium-march-2015/
Free EMR newsletter
This is a very good newsletter and it is free so please share this with colleagues, friends and family…The information could be lifesaving for some people. Thank you!
Smart meters vulnerable to cyber attack
The headline says it all really…a clever hacker has worked out how someone could paralyse a city where so-called “smart” meters are used by using a very simple strategy…Another good reason to insist on a non-electronic meter!
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/smart-meters-vulnerable-to-cyber-attack/
Smart meters and privacy updates
The Dominion Post recently covered the fact that the NZ Privacy Commissioner has received complaints regarding smart meters and privacy, so thank you to the people who took the initiative to complain – your complaints helped to increase public awareness of the smart meter issue. You can access the story through the link below:
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/dominion-post/
Have you heard of the “internet of things”? The link below explains how smart meters fit into this “Brave New World”…
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/smart-meters-the-internet-of-things-and-your-privacy/
Smart meters are a waste of money
Read what University of Exeter researchers have to say about smart meters here:
www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/study-by-university-of-essex-asks-are-smart-meters-a-waste-of-money/
Thank you and Request!
That’s all for this update. Thank you to everyone who is helping with this campaign by running events in their communities, emailing people on their lists and sharing links through Facebook, as well as undertaking many other initiatives.
Wishing you the best of health,
Katherine Smith
The Manawatu Standard reports on the submissions hearing.
25 Feb 2015
“The application has drawn opposition from neighbouring property owners. There were 62 submissions to the resource consent application….
Turakina resident Richard Grant said in his submission that many residents were worried about the effect of water running off the landfill and into a small stream that ran through the town.
He said leachate was an unknown factor and could affect the quality of the water.”
Many other concerns are presented by submitters: READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
By Laurel Stowell
“Leachate from the Bonny Glen Landfill could make Marton’s wastewater sludge too toxic to be trucked back to the landfill for disposal, Geoff Mills says…
Mr Mills lives in Marton and works in the water quality and water treatment sector. For the last 15 years most of his work has been overseas…
The Marton system has been unable to continuously comply with its resource consent for years, Mr Mills said, despite spending to improve it. Reports have said leachate from Bonny Glen is likely to be having a major effect…
It would be a long and costly process to determine the right pre-treatment for “abnormal waste such as tannery wastes”, Mr Mills said. He was not confident the result would work well, or that the company would be asked to pay the true cost.”
Read the full ARTICLE HERE
UNSPOILT? !!!
Further Comment:
Geoff and his wife Gretta, who both made submissions asked for the hearing to be adjourned until the problem of the leachate disposal is sorted however were denied and told the consent ….“only concerned effects at the actual Bonny Glen site – regardless of whether decisions on it had effects elsewhere.”
The very topic that is of most concern to many local residents, as previously indicated here, has been effectively sidelined off the books. Another Marton resident, Hamish Allen, also made a submission regarding the leachate and was reminded that the topic was not part of the hearing. It is the Council’s concern we are told, and yet, the both the Council and Horizons have shown themselves to be grossly negligent over the issue … many years of missing reports regarding the levels of pollution discharged into the local waterways with neither a reprimand nor a penal consequence imposed. The public need to become persistent here in requiring both explanations for historical negligence, and transparent accountability for their future handling of this matter, and in particular the apparent collusion between the parties. We have here a typical example of corporate persuasion. The very organization that ratepayers believe are representing them, by all appearances are representing the conglomerate that is seeking to turn our ‘unspoilt’ region into a sewer (or toilet bowl) pretty much.
As an additional note here, this sway that is now commonly held by corporations over governments and regional authorities world wide is a sign of new times to come. This situation will become even worse should the TPPA be signed by our Prime Minister who is currently taking part in negotiations that are secret and that they refuse to divulge to the very people whom they will effect. The TPPA will give corporations the right to sue governments if they refuse to comply with their demands. It is happening already. You can research this at the itsourfuture website. (Links are on this site’s TPPA page.)
~ Rangitikei Environmental Health Watch ~
“British researchers uncovered the connection between processed foods and reduced IQ. They followed what 14,000 children ate and drank at the ages of 3, 4, 7, and 8.5 years of age…”
An article from naturalsociety.com that surely reminds us of why we need to limit our childrens’ intake of processed foods.This takes some determination on the part of parents given the pressure of advertising that targets our children, and the ‘convenience’ of prepackaged foods for busy lifestyles. Organic is best for growing little bodies. If cost is a problem, weigh up what you will spend on medical expenses in the long run. Growing your own is another option. This all just requires rethinking our priorities and forward planning. Read the Natural Society article HERE
Natural Society is also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NaturalSociety
The Wanganui Chronicle continues to report on the submissions hearing in Feilding this past week…
By laurel.stowell@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
Litter, smell and vermin from the Bonny Glen Landfill will only increase if it is expanded, Linda O’Neill says.
She and her husband Chris live in one of the closest houses to the Midwest Disposals landfill near Marton. On Thursday they made a submission to the hearing considering whether to allow it to expand.
They oppose the full extent of the expansion, and especially the full 160m height the “mountain of rubbish” would attain.
When they bought their property in 2008 they didn’t know the landfill could expand. At that stage it was due to close either in 2028 or when it was full – whichever happened first….. READ THE ARTICLE HERE
Somebody I know locally, as we discussed food and what’s in it these days, handed me an additive list she takes shopping with her so she knows which items to avoid. The list comes from an excellent website I’d not seen before … and one which is closer to home for Kiwis. The site is www.additivealert.com.au
Described there are, of 300 additives in our food, 60 that are particularly questionable, and some pose definite health risks. Some of them are known carcinogens. They advertise a book there called ‘Additive Alert’ by Julie Eady.
“This book is the essential consumers guide to selecting
food that is as risk free as current knowledge will permit. Presenting a well thought out and logical flow of information, it is easy to read and understand. “Additive Alert” makes real healthy food choices simpler for us all. An absolute must for the health conscious.”
Dr Joanne Samer MB.BS, Post Grad Dip Health Science, Perth WA
Like the EWG site, you can search these & identify the side effects of additives. One for instance is number 102, called Tartrazine, and is linked to hyperactivity, skin rashes, migraines, behavioural problems, thyroid problems and chromosome damage. It has been banned in Norway and Austria.
Check out the website and add it to your favourites if you find it useful. In addition, if you find additives in your favourite products, vote with your wallet, obviously, and don’t buy, but also, consider phoning the makers of these products and ask that they desist from using the additive/s. If they won’t, tell them you won’t buy them. Consider, if every consumer did this, things would change fairly quickly: Visit Additive Alert
From the Wanganui Chronicle … article by Zaryd Wilson as the submissions hearing continues in Feilding …
By Zaryd Wilson
“Bonny Glen is an essential piece of regional infrastructure and new consents will provide greater environmental protection – that’s the view of Midwest Disposals, which wants to expand its waste operation there significantly.
The consent hearing for the expansion of the landfill near Marton began in Feilding yesterday in front of three independent commissioners, with the landfill company putting its case first.” ….
Read the article at its SOURCE:
~ Rangitikei Environmental Health Watch ~
By Zaryd Wilson
Submitters on the extension to the Bonny Glen landfill are having to “put their lives on hold” because they haven’t been given a time slot to speak at a resource consent hearing.
A hearing is under way in Marton on the proposed extension of the landfill near Marton.
Rangitikei District councillor Soraya Peke-Mason, who on Monday said the decision to hold the hearing outside Rangitikei was an “insult”, has again criticised the process. She said many submitters in her Turakina Ward were still waiting for a time slot…. read the full article HERE
Comment:
I agree with the concerns outlined to date. The venue to begin with is totally impractical for people who are working or unable to travel this distance daily for the 9 days of the hearings. As has been pointed out in this article, folks are waiting around for a time slot. All of this works against a fair and democratic process. The professionals involved in this process, the people who have spent $1.5 million investing in it and defending it … their salaries will continue and time off work for them is not required. It is their work. The folk who will have to live with these important decisions being made here, are having stumbling blocks put in their way. How many employers are going to freely give these folk time off their work to participate? Who is going to take valuable vacation time off to tend to business? Ordinary people need to survive. Having negotiated these obstacles they are now forced to wait around in uncertainty to speak.
And how difficult can it be to arrange this locally, within reach of the participants, with a practical timetable made well in advance of the event so folks can prepare accordingly? Clearly the decision to hold the even in Feilding has come as a complete surprise going by Cr Peke-Mason’s criticisms on Feb 16th. Let’s face it, these decisions involve not only the lives of those making submissions, but the lives of their children and grandchildren. Midwest is seeking for consents for a quadrupled landfill with a life span of over 30+ years. It’s very clear here who is the dog and who is the tail in this process.
~ Rangitikei Environmental Health Watch ~
Kiwis in particular readily use glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular product called Roundup, because it is advertised as ‘safe’ and ‘biodegradable’. Glyphosate is an integral part of the GE food industry because it is sprayed on GM crops. The seeds for those crops are genetically modified to tolerate the herbicide, therefore it becomes ingested by whoever eats it. However, France’s highest Court has ruled that Monsanto lied about its safety and has deceived the public. Roundup/Glyphosate is not biodegradable. This brief video explains how the industry works to promote the view that it is safe. The following short video (3 1/2 minutes) is from http://www.naturalhealth365.com
http://www.naturalhealth365.com offers this exclusive interview with Jeffrey Smith, a leading consumer advocate promoting the health benefits of non-GMO food choices.
Video highlights include:
How genetically engineered foods got approved. (shocking facts!)
Suspicious Food and Drug Administration behavior exposed.
The scientifically-proven health dangers associated with eating GMOs.
Revealing truths about the most dangerous (genetically modified) chemical on the planet.
Plus, much more!
In less than 4 minutes, this video is packed with lifesaving information for you and your family. Help us spread the word and share this video with everyone.
To hear the entire interview with Jonathan Landsman and Jeffrey Smith plus much more – join us inside the NaturalNews Inner Circle, a monthly subscription – by clicking the link below:
http://www.naturalnews.com/NaturalNew…
To learn more about glyphosate and its dark side, and to become active in persuading the Rangitikei District Council to restrict its use in the Rangitikei, visit the glyphosate page on this site by clicking this LINK
This article is from the Wanganui Chronicle regarding the venue for the submission hearings …. Rangitikei District Council’s Soraya Peke-Mason has slammed the decision for hearings to be held in Feilding ….
By zaryd.wilson@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
“Soraya Peke-Mason has slammed a decision to hold a hearing on the expansion of the Bonny Glen landfill outside the district, calling it an “insult” to Rangitikei ratepayers.
Midwest Disposals Ltd, which runs the landfill near Marton, has applied for resource consents with Rangitikei District Council and Horizons Regional Council to expand the operation…..” read the full ARTICLE HERE
In true corporate style Midwest Disposals has (quite legitimately & legally) managed to sidestep most of the very issues the average person would be concerned enough about to make a submission. With just two weeks to wade through 1500 pages of legalese, after the announced application for consent to quadruple in size back in May 2014, 60+ people braved it and did just that. However (and knowing this in advance would’ve been useful) any concerns about increased truck traffic, property values and the leachate disposal … well they’re the responsibility of, not Midwest, but the NZ Transport Agency, RDC and Horizons… and RDC incidentally have already failed to keep consistent and accurate records about leachate volumes being dumped in the Waste Water Treatment Plant … and Horizons appear to have done little about that besides slap them on the wrist with a wet bus ticket. (In case you missed that item of news it appeared a few days before Christmas in the Wanganui Chronicle). Close examination of the consent compliance forms reveals regular non compliance with little if anything in the way of consequences. So neither of these organizations it appears, is doing their job properly.
Regarding the submission issues, the operative words are … (this from your RDC & Horizons representatives)… ‘maybe’ and ‘might’. On the important issue of property prices, “the RMA focuses on the direct effects of the proposal which, depending on their severity, may in turn affect property prices, therefore devaluation of property is a secondary effect”.
Regarding the nuisance of truck traffic through town, Midwest says it is not their responsibility what route the trucks use. It is stated that this is the heavy traffic bypass. Perhaps this needs to be reviewed then. No doubt when that route was originally designated as such, the volume would have been a lot less. Given a member of the public has counted a conservative estimate of 35 trucks in a morning, surely an alternative rural route could now be designated for heavy traffic that is headed to the landfill.
There was also complaint about the refuse dropping off trucks. It’s reported that this is the responsibility of the Transport Agency … so people need now to be vigilant in reporting, until this is satisfactorily dealt with.
As to volume of truck traffic, a trucking report last year (links in updates here) assured the public they didn’t anticipate an increase … even though the rubbish volume was set to quadruple. I wonder how this will be achieved?
As to animal deaths. Midwest is agreeing to pay for deaths of stock for which refuse has been proven to be the cause via an autopsy. Should there be no proof arising from the autopsy then the farmer pays. So it is a matter of gambling with that cost and for many I suspect it will be more cost effective to flag the autopsy and write it off as a loss.
Midwest also intends to make a formal agreement with the RDC regarding leachate disposal instead of the former ‘gentleman’s agreement’. Which is what should have been done in the first place. For 8+ years, who knows how much leachate has gone into the waterways that has been beyond acceptable levels? We may never know. Is anybody at all concerned?
Submissions will be heard in Feilding this week, 17 February 2015. Information can be viewed on Horizons Website HERE
You can read the Chronicle article HERE
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