The message was spelt out loud and clear at a Hawea Community Association (HCA) meeting last weekend: Queenstown Lakes District Council's proposed wheeliebin service should be rejected in favour of the existing blue bag system.
After Wanaka Wastebusters chairwoman and HCA representative Rachel Brown summed up the results of Wastebusters' recent survey on rubbish habits in the area, the 40 or so residents who attended the meeting came out overwhelmingly in opposition to the proposal.
QLDC Deputy Mayor John Wilson told the Hawea residents their feelings were ‘‘being echoed right throughout'' the district.
‘‘The message is very clear and consistent coming in to council,'' Mr Wilson said.
People at the meeting agreed the Hawea community had a large number of holidaymakers and older people who would receive no benefit from the proposed service.
Ms Brown said the proposal ‘‘flies in the face of this community, which is already reducing waste to landfill''.
Hawea resident Freda Bleasdale said she only put out her council rubbish bag once a month.
After the meeting, she said a worm farm, a commitment to recycling and living alone were all factors that contributed to her low waste output.
‘‘Out here in Lake Hawea, the recycling bins seem to get really full, they're really used,'' Mrs Bleasdale said.
‘‘The folk around here seem to be very much into it. You've only got to go down to Wastebusters to see how much gets recycled.
‘‘They've really educated the public of Wanaka and Hawea to use Wastebusters to recycle and it [the wheelie bin proposal] just seems such a backward step.''
Dick Cotter said he could make his garbage bag last at least a month.
‘‘I compost and put a lot out in the recycling and I'm on my own.
‘‘It's a big difference from a few bags a year to what they're going to charge us.''
He said some of the older people in the community would be the hardest hit.
- The HCA has made a submission to council in opposition to the proposal.
