Kawerau District Council heard submissions this week on its draft annual plan, which includes a proposal for a contained asbestos dump and options for how to share the $1 million ratings shortfall, resulting from the closure and revaluation of the Norske Skog mill.

The council received 80 written submissions over the one-month consultation period. Fifteen submitters indicated they wished to speak at Wednesday's hearing.

Of the submitters, 63 elected to keep the district rating share to 45 per cent residential and 55 per cent industrial and commercial, as it is currently. This would mean the industrial sector meeting the entirety of the shortfall in rates due to the revaluation of the mill from $75 million to $20 million.

This option would see a 34.6 per cent rate rise for the industrial and commercial sector.

Seven submitters voted for a second option which would see a 50-50 split between residential and commercial sectors. Most of these submitters were on behalf of industrial groups and businesses.

Business owners said given the existing economic climate, increased central Government regulation and the impacts of Covid-19, significant rate increases would be detrimental to encouraging new industry and the expansion of current businesses within the district.

'A strong Kawerau district requires a strong commercial sector and the employment, expenditure and investment this brings,” says Glenn Sutton, from Sequel Lumber. 'Creating an environment that encourages this investment is therefore key to the long-term health of the region. Overburdening business with an inequitable share of the total district rates bill undermines this goal to the detriment of all ratepayers.”

Industrial Symbiosis Kawerau general manager Peter Cowley said the council should not accept the revaluation of the Norske Skog property.

'We have approached several councils in the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato on a no-names basis and all confirmed that they would not consider a rate decrease based on the de-valuation of property in circumstances similar to Norske … To devalue it serves no purpose other than to subsidise Norske and make it easier for them to sell an undervalued property.”

He says Norske Skog's rates should be reassessed upwards, to $2.5 million.

The 50-50 option would increase residential rates by 16.1 percent. Submitters against this option said it would have a detrimental impact on the social fabric of Kawerau, resulting in landlords increasing rents to absorb the increased costs.

In regard to the creation of an asbestos containment facility, which would help offset rates by 1.8 percent if it went ahead, 38 were in support, while 32 were against it. Ten submitters did not select an option.

Among those against the facility was Louise Hiwarau.

'Opening up a hazardous waste business that allows access to the rest of the country is a disaster in the making,” she says.

'If saving our piece of paradise from being poisoned and becoming a dumping ground for the country's hazardous waste means rates will increase by 1.8 percent, then that is my preference.”

Other submitters said it was a good project for Kawerau. Allied Engineering general manager Lester Murfitt said the safe and secure operation of an asbestos containment site would be an asset to the Kawerau district and its ratepayers.

'Many of the local buildings and infrastructure are asbestos containing and a local asbestos containment site would be cost effective. There is also the positive environmental impact of local asbestos being contained locally and not trucked across the country.”

Others said the process felt rushed and that they did not have enough information to make an informed decision.

Other submissions related to better disability access, roading and footpaths, parks and reserves, Rangi Delamare Netball Pavillion, Maurie Kjar Memorial Swimming Pool Complex, freedom camping, economic development, solid waste and communication with residents and ratepayers.

-Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air