Umbrage over council’s wood chipper ‘insinuations’

A chopped chipper is proving a sore point in Twizel.

The wood chipper at the centre of the controversy was bought by the Twizel Community Board for $23,000 in 2009, and was, until recently, hired out to the community.

Due to health and safety concerns, however, the Mackenzie District Council recommended to the board during its meeting on August 3 that it sell the chipper, which has since occurred.

During the past three years, former board member Pat Shuker personally operated the chipper in an effort to raise funds for the board, while mitigating health and safety risks to hirers.

Mrs Shuker (80) said the scheme had benefited both the community and the board, which had received donations of $40 an hour and fuel costs from the chipper’s hire.

However, Mrs Shuker took umbrage after a council report to the board said book-keeping for the funds was incomplete.

"... it is unknown what the hire rate is, where the hire funds are recorded or what account they are paid into," the report says.

Mrs Shuker said she had been alerted to the issue only after friends had read a media article reporting what she characterised as "insinuations" by the council.

"I’ve only ever volunteered my time and help to benefit the community, and every cent has been paid on to the board.

"Although these insinuations are water off a duck’s back for me, there are several angry in the community that they’ve been made, and that we’ve ended up losing the people’s chipper.

"It’s a bit like being under a dictatorship."

Mackenzie Mayor Graham Smith was quick to deny any suggestion of impropriety on Mrs Shuker’s behalf.

"All funds have been banked in Twizel Community Board general funds.

"I have admired Pat over the past few years with her love, passion, and interest in the community. She is of good character, and the council is grateful to have worked with her," he said.

Council operations general manager Tim Harty said "good intentions" alone were not enough for the council to overlook health and safety requirements.

"This equipment has the ability to cause serious harm if used incorrectly, and council don’t have the expertise or resources to manage the responsibilities that go with providing a hire service.

"Unfortunately, allowing the community ... to manage the hiring and procedures relating to the wood chipper doesn’t absolve council of its responsibilities under health and safety legislation."