A ban on burning rubbish on residential sections being proposed by the Waitaki District Council has drawn the ire of some ratepayers, who say it will increase the amount of waste going to landfills.
The council last year reviewed its urban fire bylaw and proposes to ban any fires on residential sections within 32 designated urban areas in the district, including the townships of Oamaru, Omarama, Otematata, Kurow, Duntroon, Maheno, Herbert, Hampden, Moeraki and Palmerston.
It would ban open fires within 50m of any property boundary - effectively virtually every section in the urban areas.
At present, people can have open fires to burn rubbish so long as it is in a container, they attend it and have a hose running.
The change would bring the district into line with rules set by the Otago Regional Council and its northern counterpart, Environment Canterbury (ECan).
While some ratepayers oppose the ban, the Otago Regional Council wants a tougher one - a ban within 100m of a property boundary.
The submissions, and a decision on whether the draft proposal will become part of the bylaw, will be considered by the council's strategy committee on February 10.
The council said the proposed ban was to prevent open fires endangering people and property.
The change was also proposed because of many complaints about fires and smoke from people in urban areas.
Palmerston resident Ken Brown said the ban would mean no property smaller than 10,000sq m could be used for burning rubbish.
Burning rubbish was the "only cost-effective solution" with the council closing dump sites, he said.
Daniel Moffat said that in Duntroon and many urban areas there were no recycling drop-off sites.
Duntroon people would have to make a 50km round trip to Kurow to dispose of garden rubbish.
Oamaru resident Ian Burns said burning his rubbish reduced the amount of waste going to the landfill.
Moeraki Tavern owner Brian Todd said burning the business' rubbish saved more than $30 a week.
Oamaru resident Colin Hay said the council was inflicting further costs on ratepayers.
"Many may find the only way to reduce their green waste and other refuse is to remove trees and shrubs and remodel with large areas of concrete.
"That would undoubtedly be detrimental to the town's image."
