Fire at ResourceCo
5pm
A fire at the ResourceCo demolition waste recycling facility on Cambridge Road earlier today has been contained, with ongoing monitoring in place.
Wayne Allan
Emergency services responded just after 6am this morning, with a large volume of smoke visible during the fire, and steam generated, as it was brought under control. While the fire has been extinguished, a number of hot spots remain and are being actively managed onsite.
A coordinated, multi-agency response has been in place, including Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Waikato Regional Council, public health officials, and council staff.
Council’s environmental health and compliance teams have attended the site. Air quality monitoring has been undertaken by Waikato Regional Council, and the Medical Officer of Health has provided public health advice.
Results received this afternoon indicate that ‘health-based air quality guidelines are not expected to be exceeded beyond the site boundary’. Air quality monitoring will continue over the weekend.
Waikato Regional Council is also assessing any potential impacts including water runoff from the site.
District growth and regulatory services group manager, Wayne Allan, said the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
“Council will work closely with the site operator and relevant agencies to understand the cause and ensure all consent conditions are being met. Any necessary follow-up actions will be taken,” he said. – Waipa District Council
8am
Fire at ResourceCo
Volunteer firefighters have been at the scene of a fire at a recycling managed fill facility on the southwest of Cambridge since 5.45am where a blaze described by the Fire Service log as a “vegetation fire” was out of control.
ResourceCo Ltd, formerly Wasteworx, holds consents for a recycling facility, vermicomposting operation, sand quarry, and clean fill at 3831 Cambridge Road on the outskirts of Cambridge.
ResourceCo was allocated up to $2.57 million from the government’s Waste Minimisation Fund in 2024 to support the development of the plant in Cambridge, servicing Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki regions.
ResourceCo has applied to Waikato Regional Council for consents to discharge stormwater, dispose of managed fill on land, and divert/discharge groundwater. A land use consent is also needed from Waipā District Council as a discretionary activity.
The News understands the fire is not on the consented part of the site meaning any contamination is outside this area.
See: Quarry complaints levelled
See: Council reviews consent bid
See: Cambridge Community Board agenda
See: Application form from ResourceCo
See: 3831 Cambridge Road, Cambridge application
The fire at ResourceCo
The fire at ResourceCo
The fire at ResourceCo
A map of the site
Bikes damage green areas
17 April 10.15am- Stop Press: Police are now talking to youths in relation to the damage at Cambridge Golf Club and to grasses areas around Cambridge.
16 April 5pm
Police want to hear from anyone with information about damage caused to the Cambridge Golf Club greens and to grassed areas of the roundabout through the Cambridge CBD on the night of Thursday April 9 between 9.50pm and 10.30pm. The two people in the photos could help to assist them with their enquiries.
One of the bikes looks similar to a black Surron electric bike and the other looks to be a small dirt bike that will either be 50cc or electric.
The rider of the Surron type electric bike is wearing denim shorts and a distinctive dark coloured hooded sweatshirt with orange writing or a stripe along the back. If anyone has any information they can email Paul.Graham@police.govt.nz quoting file number 260410/3246, call into the Cambridge Police Station, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Region escapes Vaianu’s fury
Cyclone Vaianu brought a decent amount of rain and blew a few trees over – but that was about the extent of it for Waipā. In Waipā the district council reported minor and very localised impacts. A fallen tree closed both lanes at Sainsbury Road in Pirongia, and there were isolated spots of minor surface ponding in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and along SH3. About 100 homes were without power for a short time after a tree fell on power lines at Pickering Road, Hautapu.
Water woes
Water Done Well. Photo: pexels.com
Waipā councillors held a behind closed doors workshop last week where they aired concerns about Waikato Waters and spiralling redundancy costs. The News understands the bill has exceeded the council’s budgeted costs for the company which begins operating under the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy on July 1.
Sanding on track
A two-week project to sand the Grassroots Trust Velodrome track has just passed the halfway point. The work to rejuvenate the track surface will ensure it maintains its UCI Category A status and world-class riding conditions. Cambridge velodrome has supported high-performance and community cycling for over a decade. Maintenance work will include replacing sections of the track where required, removing build up, restoring grip and keeping the riding surface safe in condition for high-performance events.
Policy on hold
The long-awaiting review of Waipā District Council’s eight-year-old Arts Policy has been deferred to next year due to competing organisational priorities. The policy sets out how council manages its public art, particularly art gifted to the council.
Whales harassed
The conservation department wants to identify people who were in several boats allegedly harassing a pod of orca in Raglan’s Whaiangaroa harbour last month. Waikato Operations Manager Niwha Jones says a witness contacted DOC after the March 23 incident. It is an offence to purposefully approach orca closer than 50 metres, or in a way that disturbs them.
Rates set
Waikato district councillors have approved a below inflation general rate increase of 2.8 per cent and a resulting average rate increase of 3.79 per cent.
SPORTS NEWS
Second for Collier
Nick Collier in action
Waipā kayaker Nick Collier placed second overall at the national canoe slalom championships in Kawerau this month. He was pipped by just 0.74 second by Finn Butcher. Hamilton based Tom Goldsmith was third – completing an all Central-Otago raised podium in the K1 Men’s event. Collier, Goldsmith and Tauranga’s Ben Pilbrow were the top three in the Under-23 class.
Football update
Former New Zealand football powerhouse North Shore recorded a 3-1 home win over Cambridge to leapfrog the Waipā club on the Northern League men’s championship table last weekend.
The league includes Hamilton Wanderers and newly promoted Taupo – beaten a week earlier 2-1 by Cambridge. Melville has two wins and two losses from four in the top women’s Northern League competition while Cambridge is sitting fourth after two outings in the championship.
Motor-X results
Cambridge’s Jack Hazelden finished in the top five when Auckland teenager Jack Ellingham was crowned a New Zealand motocross champion. Among the other winners was Cambridge’s Cambridge’s Nico Verhoeven (11-12 years 85cc class) and Piopio’s Case Wilson (8-10 years’ 85cc class). Verhoeven also won his respective class at the corresponding championships in Pukekohe last year.
Clocks stops
Town Hall clock
Cambridge’s town clock was stopped on Tuesday for routine six-monthly maintenance.
