Frustrated Puketapu residents fed up with ongoing fly-tipping in the area say the offenders are taking it to another, far more dangerous level by setting their rubbish on fire.
There were eight deliberately lit fires across Hawke’s Bay in November, with four of them on one road – Springfield Rd in Puketapu.
The latest on November 30, spread to wooden fence railings along the newly installed cycleway, which was wiped out by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Heather Symons, whose family has lived on Springfield Rd for generations, said the road, which was on the way to Redclyffe Transfer Station, has always been a hot spot for people to dump their rubbish.
“But now people are burning it. I don’t know if that’s so no-one can identify them, but the problem is just getting worse and it’s a huge worry,” Symons said.
Fire and Emergency NZ Hawke’s Bay Community Risk Manager Nigel Hall said fire crews were called twice to fires on Springfield Rd on November 30.
They also attended two rubbish fires, one on November 18 and another on November 9, involving carpets and household rubbish.
The fourth for the month on the same road was a vegetation fire at Otatara Pa Historic Reserve, on November 23, all were deliberately lit.
“As summer progresses and fire danger increases. These seemingly small fires could have devastating consequences if they spread into surrounding vegetation or property before crews arrive,” Hall said.
Symons said people had been dumping rubbish in the area for 25 to 30 years, but in the last two or three years it had escalated.
“It seems to be on a different scale now. People dump a lot of green waste, all down the road in different spots, and rubbish from full trailer loads to bags or a boot load.”
Another resident who lives further down the road, nearer the dump, Chris Marwick, said he was constantly ringing Napier City Council to get the rubbish taken away.
“I have asked for surveillance cameras to be installed, but to no avail,” Marwick said.
He said the council did put a fence up at the entrance to the old dump, but it was smashed down as people continued to dump their rubbish.
The council fixed the damage and installed bollards in front of it.
Marwick said people dumped their stuff because they didn’t want to pay the fees, or the dump was closed.
“But now they have the gall to start burning it. Contractors are out here at least once a week picking up rubbish. Recently, less than 24 hours after they left, someone dumped a top-loading washing machine.”
While there was a charge to leave fridges and freezers at the dump, washing machines are free.
Hall said Fire and Emergency NZ was urging the Hawke’s Bay community to take extra care, as much of the fire zone known as the Hawke’s Bay District remained in a restricted fire season.
“This means fire permits are required for any outdoor burning within the zones that are in a restricted season,” he said.
“Lighting fires without a permit is not only illegal but can lead to dangerous situations where fires escape and become uncontrollable. “
He said temperatures were forecast to stay high, and dry conditions would persist.
“These factors significantly increase the risk of fire spread and make extinguishing fires more difficult.
“While crews are responding to nuisance fires, our resources for more serious incidents are stretched, which could impact our ability to respond quickly to larger emergencies,” Hall said.
A spokesperson for the Napier City Council said transfer station fees were reviewed annually and took into consideration the disposal costs at the landfill, the logistics and transportation costs associated with waste haulage, and operational and maintenance costs to keep the site operational.
They said the council had 22 requests concerning dumped rubbish or illegal dumping in Springfield Rd so far this year.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
