Anger over new landfill proposed for deadly north Auckland road

Sunday, 7 October 2018

At least 11 people have died on the 12km stretch of State Highway 1, between Warkworth and Wellsford, since 2006.

Plans for a landfill site in north Auckland, predicted to add 450 return vehicle trips a day to one of New Zealand's deadliest roads, has residents riled up.

Private waste company Waste Management wants to build the rubbish dump in Dome Valley, on land between Wellsford and Warkworth.

It would replace the Redvale Landfill and Energy Park in Dairy Flat, which is predicted to reach capacity between 2026 and 2028.

Leane Barry, who lives on SH1 near the proposed site, has concerns about extra vehicles on the already deadly stretch of road.

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Dome Valley local Leane Barry is concerned the landfill will add traffic to an already dangerous road.

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At least 11 people have died on the 12km stretch of State Highway 1, between Warkworth and Wellsford, north of Auckland, since 2006.

'It can't be anything other than a joke really. There's nothing about it that makes sense. Nothing.'

'There's been plenty of times where we can't get out [of the driveway] because of accidents. The road's not wide enough, it's not safe for anything let alone the traffic that's already going on it.'

Barry said she did checks when she bought her home three years ago to make sure there would be no drastic changes to the land around it, so she was surprised to have a man knock on her door to let her know of Waste Management's plans.

Waste Management managing director Tom Nickels said a search of north Auckland concluded the Dome Valley site was a good fit for a new landfill site.

'I think he thought I was going to be overjoyed.'

Waste Management managing director Tom Nickels said it consulted with local iwi and neighbours as soon as it was able, and was glad to be receiving questions and feedback.

Auckland Council Rodney ward Councillor Greg Sayers hopes that residents are given the opportunity to raise any concerns.

In a booklet given to residents, Waste Management said the land was identified for its good access to State Highway 1, lack of nearby rural roads, its one kilometre of 'buffer' distance from the nearest home and avoidance of areas of cultural and environmental significance.

The landfill was predicted to add 300 return trips by waste trucks and 150 by light vehicles to SH1 per day, with this number set to increase to 500 waste trucks and 250 light vehicles return trips by 2060.

Auckland Council resource consents general manager Ian Smallburn said safety and environmental impacts will be consider before consent is given.

Nickels said the estimated number of vehicle movements were maximum predictions and light vehicles trips included staff, service vehicles, deliveries, visitors and already operational forestry activities.

Regarding road safety, Nickels said it had already been in discussion with New Zealand Transport Agency.

'NZTA has commenced a project to improve safety on State Highway 1 between Wellsford and Warkworth in Dome Valley. We understand this project will be completed by 2021, well before the opening of the proposed the landfill, between 2026 and 2028.'

NZTA senior system design manager Kevin Reid couldn't comment on Waste Management's plan, but said it aimed to create safe journeys for New Zealanders by managing the effects that subdivision, land use development and state highway access requests had on the safety and efficiency of state highways.

'To this end we encourage all developers to work with us to ensure any effects on the transport network are addressed.'

Barry also has a river running through her property, which she said was not included on the map provided by Waste Management.

'I don't know why that's been omitted. We've got long and short tail eels and giant eels. [The landfill] is going to make a huge impact on those waterways.'

'It's the Dome Valley. It's a beautiful, pristine place.'

Nickels said separation from sensitive rivers had been considered.

'A search throughout the Auckland region north of the [Harbour] bridge has identified the site being Wayby and Dome Valley as the most appropriate site for the proposal.'

Rodney ward councillor Greg Sayers said he had not been notified of the proposal.

'I would want the resource application to be fully publicly notified so anyone with a concern could formally lodge their objections.'

Auckland Council resource consents general manager Ian Smallburn said it hadn't yet received a development consent application, and couldn't comment on the proposal's merits, but said safety and environmental impacts would be taken into consideration.