Howick Local Board member Bruce Kendall is calling for three rubbish bins that have been removed from public spaces in east Auckland to be put back.
Kendall has a notice of motion on the agenda of the board’s business meeting today, June 27, that the board request Auckland Council’s parks and community facilities department to reinstall two bins removed from The Parade in Bucklands Beach and one at the northern entrance to Macleans Park in Oliver Road.
His notice of motion, which is seconded by board member John Spiller, also requests the most used bins in the Howick Local Board area have signage attached to them requesting people “Please take rubbish home where sorting for recycling is best managed”.
As the Times reported earlier this year, the council is removing more than 150 rubbish bins from locations in the local community.
Hundreds of rubbish bins are being removed from across Auckland in an effort to save almost $10 million.
The move has been met with loud opposition from residents who say it will make it harder to keep local public spaces clean and tidy.
Kendall’s motion will be discussed and voted on by the board shortly.
Bucklands and Eastern Beaches Residents and Ratepayers Association member Derek Shortt is speaking to the board during the public forum part of its meeting in support of Kendall’s notice of motion.
He says the association also wants a rubbish bin installed at Little Bucklands Beach.
It’s done analysis of the distance between rubbish bins in the area.
Nick Webb from the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club is now speaking to the board about the issue.
He says rubbish is piling up due to bins being removed from the area.
Bins have been removed from Half Moon Bay Marina near the boat ramp and the idea of not having bins there so people take their rubbish away is “clearly not working for us”.
Webb has asked the board to replace rubbish bins that have been removed from the area and possibly install new bins.
Kendall is now explaining to his board colleagues why he’s introduced the notice of motion.
He says it’s due to constant requests from local residents and the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club to have the bins reinstalled due to a significant increase in rubbish in the area since the bins were removed.
Prior to the bins being removed residents would pick up rubbish and put it in a bin, but rubbish left on the ground now is being blown into the ocean, where it can harm marine life.
He says he’s seen people throw rubbish out of their cars onto the ground.
Bins on Bucklands Beach Peninsula are filled to overflowing on a regular basis, Kendall says.
“Taking away bins in these locations is not resulting in a change of behaviour. It’s just got worse.”
Spiller says he supports Kendall’s notice of motion in part because several weeks ago he had a phone call from a Half Moon Bay resident who said he walks in the area every day.
The resident said he used to pick up a lot of rubbish and put it in the bins that were there, but now they’re gone so he can’t.
The board is now discussing the specifics of Kendall’s notice of motion as its detail has changed since first being put forward.
The Times will have an update on the outcome of the motion soon.
