Vocal Wanaka Wastebusters supporters yesterday demanded a reconsideration from the Queenstown Lakes District Council on last week's decision to award Wanaka's recycling contract to an Auckland firm.
Over 20 Wastebusters staff and supporters appeared at the full council meeting, delivering a briefcase holding more than 1596 votes of no confidence in the decision collected over the weekend.
However, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden said in an open letter late yesterday the tender decision could only be revisited in the case of a "breach of contract or poor performance".
The council's decision raised fears some of the 30 staff might lose their jobs, and sparked a 300-person march in Wanaka last Friday.
Wastebusters executive member Sally Battson, speaking in her role as Wanaka Residents' Association secretary, was one of about eight of the contingent who spoke at the meeting's public forum. She noted the board had already expressed concern about the tender process and questioned the "absence of values" in shaping the decision, "other than the fiscal bottom line".
"In light of the current Shaping Our Futures consultation, the WRA believe that the taking of this decision represented a unique opportunity for the council ... to put its money where its mouth is," Mrs Battson said, lamenting the lack of community consultation and input.
Ms van Uden later acknowledged the "frustrations, sorrow and, in some cases, anger" expressed by those who had travelled to Queenstown. She said the tender was run according to a fair process, and to accept the Wastebusters bid would have meant subsidising the group by about $280,000 a year.
Overall, she said ratepayers would save $3.9 million over the period of the contract.
In response to questions over the weighting of the tender process, she said 65% of the weighting included attributes such as social, cultural and economic benefits to the local community.
"The council did not choose the cheapest option. The cheapest proposals were rejected because they did not provide the desired level of service. The council chose the highest-scoring option with the best mix of desired outcomes [including environmental outcomes] and price."
She reiterated it was "a tough decision", and said the council had not stopped working with Wastebusters.
"Wastebusters adds value to our community and that will continue with strong support from the council. With new partnerships and initiatives supported by the council, we are absolutely confident Wastebusters can continue to be a thriving business."
