Auckland City Council Media Release

21 February 2006

Waiheke resource recovery concept design gets community tick

Feedback on the innovative concept design for Waiheke Island's new resource recovery park shows that residents are enthusiastic about the park and the opportunities it presents, Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard says.

Auckland City is redeveloping Waiheke Island's transfer station into a resource recovery park to recover as much reusable and recyclable material as possible and avoid shipping it off the island to landfill.

The Mayor says, "The new, improved facilities will allow for a range of reuse and recycling activities at the park, which will in turn create new jobs on the island. The park will also help to give the island a sustainable future by putting as much reusable material as possible back into the community."

Auckland City consulted with Waiheke islanders on the park's facilities and activities in October 2005. The proposals were met with enthusiasm and incorporated into the concept design, which was displayed at the Waste Resource Trust and the transfer station for public feedback from mid-December 2005 until the end of January 2006.

Submitters on the concept design were particularly interested in art facilities at the park. They also commented on the layout and suggested activities such as glass recycling and research and development. All feedback on the concept design will be taken into consideration as the components of the concept design are developed.

The park's facilities and activities will include:

- better facilities for recycling including a covered 'drop off wall' and a sealed parking area

- a store to sell reusable goods and a sales yard for construction and demolition materials

- a repair shop for staff to repair reusable items

- a fully enclosed system for green waste, which will decrease odour and speed up processing

- an education room for school visits, workshops, tours and industry training

- a gallery that displays local artists' works made from recycled materials and a 'rest stop' café with a coffee machine and snacks

- making bio-fuel from used cooking oil to power roadside collection trucks.

Gordon Hodson, a trustee of the Waste Resource Trust and a director of Clean Stream Waiheke, says, "I'm pleased that Waiheke islanders have taken the opportunity to feed back on the concept design and provide useful suggestions for the park.

"Thoughtful planning and community consultation on this project will make the park a community asset that will provide a model of resource recovery and reuse for the rest of New Zealand."

Auckland City will continue to involve the community in the development of the park as the project proceeds. Building work is likely to start in mid-2006.

ENDS

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