Moving waste by rail proposed by residents concerned about Dome Valley landfill traffic

Thursday, 21 March 2019

Waste Management managing director Tom Nickels said moving waste by rail may be an option if KiwiRail improves its infrastructure.

Transporting waste by rail to and from a proposed landfill site in north Auckland could help divert hundreds of trucks from a deadly road, residents say.

If Waste Management's proposed Auckland Regional Landfill gets the go ahead, the Mahurangi East Residents and Ratepayers Association (MERRA) wants waste to be transported via the Northern Rail Line, instead of by road on State Highway 1, which is known for its high number of fatal car crashes in the area.

Twenty-seven people died in crashes on State Highway 1 in the Dome Valley between 2000 and 2018. (file photo)

The deadly stretch of road through Dome Valley claimed 27 lives between 2000 and 2018, according to NZTA Crash Analysis System data.

The landfill is 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. This would see an average of 54 vehicles coming and going from the landfill every hour of the day from 5am until 10pm.

* Living near landfill 'horrible' and bad for health, north Auckland woman claims

Leane Barry's home neighbours the proposed landfill site. She is firmly against the landfill, but believes waste by rail would help if resource consent is granted.

* $1.4 billion programme to save lives on roads**

MERRA said the prospect of adding that many vehicles to the road was 'simply unacceptable'.

The Northern Rail Line passes nearby the proposed landfill site.

Its proposal for transporting waste by rail states the road is heavily relied on by Auckland's northernmost ratepayers and connects them to critical facilities, such as hospitals and airports.

'We argue that any eventual consents should include a requirement that bulk waste is transported by rail from Auckland utilising the existing but grossly under-used Auckland to Whangarei rail line that passes within 2 kilometres of the proposed landfill site.'

It also noted the increased risk of damage to the road from heavy trucks, added noise and vibration to neighbouring houses, and the slippery road-surface pollution, evident at the Redvale landfill.

MERRA does not support Waste Management's proposal to establish a landfill in 'such a sensitive and beautiful area', but accepted the project was driven by a powerful need.

Leane Barry, who lives nearby on SH1, thought the idea of using the Northern Rail Line was 'very clever'.

'Freight is always cheaper. If you have the infrastructure there, why not use it for goodness sake.'

She said traffic was gradually getting more backed-up between Wellsford and Warkworth, and she was concerned about the impact of an extra 450 vehicles on the road.

Waste Management managing director Tom Nickels said the company would consider waste transportation by rail in future.

But with 'considerable uncertainty' around rail options, its current resource consent application to Auckland Council for the site would be based on transport currently available.

It had discussed MERRA's proposal, but it was determined current infrastructure did not allow for movement of waste by rail.

'KiwiRail have agreed there is potential for waste by rail if infrastructure is upgraded.

'We will continue to maintain flexibility to consider rail in future if and when it is available,' Nickels said.

Should Ports of Auckland relocate to Northport, near Whangarei, waste by rail may become more viable as Wellsford transfer infrastructure would also require an upgrade.

Waste Management previously trialled waste by rail from the Coromandel to the Redvale Landfill and Energy Park and considered expanding the service to regional areas including Gisbourne and New Plymouth.

'Unfortunately, it was not viable for various reasons.'

KiwiRail general manager of sales Alan Piper said the North Auckland line was currently used by one return freight service which operates five days a week.

KiwiRail and Waste Management had discussed using rail for rubbish transfer, he said, but more work was needed before the economic and practical viability of it could be determined.

This included the likely volumes to be transported, the impact on existing services, the capacity of the North Auckland line and any line upgrades and extensions needed.

But he acknowledged that freight by rail had 66 per cent fewer carbon emissions compared to heavy road freight.

'Rail has an important part to play in building stronger connections for a better New Zealand, including in reducing congestion on roads and cutting emissions,' he added.

Waste Management plans to submit its resource consent application to Auckland Council in April.