Christchurch City Council's composting plant in Bromley. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The Greater Hornby Residents Association says one major concern is still lingering over a planned organics processing plant for the Christchurch suburb.
Ecogas was set to build the new, enclosed plant to replace the city's current open-air model, which had plagued Bromley residents with a horrendous stench for more than a decade.
More than a dozen community representatives from Hornby, neighbouring Templeton and Prebbleton, visited Ecogas plants in Reporoa and Papakura last week, by invitation.
Association spokesperson Marc Duff said the trip was informative and eased community concerns about pungent odours escaping from the plant.
"All of us that went on the trip were reassured by what we saw. While we smelt the odour on site, we didn't smell it when we went off-site, so that was probably the most reassuring thing," he said.
The representatives who went on the trip presented back to the community on Sunday at a public meeting.
There was a new top concern in the feedback this time around, Duff said.
"The residents spoke really strongly and said the major issue is transport to and from the plant, and that Hornby is [already] under enough traffic duress," he said.
"We really don't want any more adding to it, it's really time to have a look at the whole Hornby roading system. It's been a build up slowly since the earthquake as we've seen more people move into the area, and more heavy transport."
There was definitely a mood in the community to have traffic flows and congestion addressed now, he said.
Traffic and transport to and from the plant are expected to be detailed in Ecogas' consent application next month.
