6 November, 2013

Bay of Islands rubbish barge back for summer

A mobile rubbish barge will be back on the water in the Bay of Islands again this summer and authorities are urging boaties to use it.

Jim Lyle, the Northland Regional Council’s Opua-based Regional Harbourmaster, says the 10-metre long barge will operate on a weather-dependent basis from Friday 27 December this year until the end of January next year.

It will be manned and will anchor around the islands/boats in the eastern Bay of Islands for pre-advertised periods and locations to collect rubbish from boaties.

In a slight change from last year, the barge will select a suitable location each day depending on the prevailing weather and then stay in that location.

“This will save confusion and boats chasing the barge around,” he says.

The barge is a multi-agency initiative organised by the regional council and supported by it and the Far North District Council, the Department of Conservation and local contractor East West Waste.

Mr Lyle says during a successful trial last year, the barge collected about 50 cubic metres of refuse and 100 wheelie bins of recycling from various spots in the eastern Bay of Islands.

“Feedback from the public was very positive with strong demand for continuation of the service this year.”

Mr Lyle says this summer shore-based collection facilities will be available at Opua, and Rawhiti (both accessible by water) as well as Dicks Bay. The barge will also visit campsites on Urupukapuka Island.

“The service has been organised around busy days experienced last year and is expected to operate on December 27 and New Year’s Eve and on January 02, 06, 08, 10, 13, 17, 24 and 31.”

Mr Lyle says the service will be weather dependent and announcements on service availability and collection points will be confirmed by Russell Radio (VHF Channel 63).

Many boaties take pre-paid rubbish bags with them on holiday, but Mr Lyle says the barge service will cost $5 per bag, irrespective of whether pre-paid rubbish bags are used or not.

“This is because the barge facility is an additional and independent temporary service organised by the regional council which is separate from the land-based pre-paid bag service run by the district council.”

“If you’re intending to use the rubbish barge service, we strongly recommend you save yourself some money by leaving your pre-paid rubbish bags at home and just using generic plain ones.”

Mr Lyle says people should ensure they have change or cash on hand, as bags will not be accepted unless paid for.

Meanwhile, Mr Lyle says the barge will accept recyclable materials but these will incur a nominal $2 charge (to help cover the costs of delivering them back to shore). Any recycling will need to be self-sorted on the barge

ENDS

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