Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes yesterday confirmed plans for a new $30 million council headquarters had been shelved after strong opposition from ratepayers.
"It is not appropriate to proceed with this project at this time," Mr Geddes said.
There had been a clear message to the council from a majority of submissions during the long-term community plan hearings recently.
Instead, the council would continue with ownership of the Gorge Rd building and lease options.
"We represent communities that are under pressure.
"Our view is that regardless of the merits or otherwise of building a new council office, we do not want to divide the community at a time when we need to work together," Mr Geddes said.
The councillors present at the hearing deliberations agreed with the decision.
However, one thing which had been supported in the 10-year plan was the new organic and residual rubbish service, which the council had decided to introduce.
Mr Geddes said there was "wide support" from the community over the revised proposal.
The new services would be subject to a communications campaign and offer an opportunity for the community to be rewarded for keeping rubbish out of the landfill.
"The key change is that the council will be offering a 120-litre community-owned wheelie bin for the collection of residual waste.
"This will be a real incentive for less rubbish to the landfill, which is what this is all about," Mr Geddes said.
The new wheelie bins would be available from October for $200 per annum and the private contractor had agreed to refund remaining months of bin rental for those who chose to make the switch.
The current pre-paid blue bags would still be available.
"If people want to make the change from July 1, they can start utilising the bags in the interim and order the new 120-litre wheelie bin for spring," Mr Geddes said.
The new service also rewarded all levels of recyclers.
It was a "user pays" system when it came to the landfill - if a household created no residual waste, then it was only paying for recycling services.
If residents could not justify the 120-litre wheelie bin, they had a choice to use either the 30-litre bag ($2) or a 60-litre bag ($3).
"The choice is entirely with each household as to the costs they wish to incur for waste collection and disposal.
"The lowest cost is for those who choose the home treatment of green and kitchen waste.
"There's a method that will work for every household from Bokashi buckets to worm farms and good old-fashioned composting," Mr Geddes said.
More information on the new service would be available during the next few weeks.
The council will meet to adopt the long-term plan on June 30.
