SIRRL requests Government takes over waste-to-energy plant consent process

Monday, 7 August 2023

An artist's impression of the proposed waste-to-energy plant in Waimate.

The company behind a waste-to-energy plant proposal for the Waimate District has requested the Environment Minister take over the plant’s resource consent process.

South Island Resource Recovery Limited’s (SIRRL) move follows Environment Canterbury and the Waimate District Council, in June, asking the minister to “call-in” the resource applications for a $350 million plant, known as Project Kea, on a 15-hectare piece of land in Glenavy.

SIRRL director Paul Taylor said following WDC and ECan’s decision, SIRRL decided to also support the councils’ request, and made a request to the minister itself to have its applications called in.

“We fully support the process whatever the minister decides, as our major priority is to progress our application through the necessary stages in a timely manner,” Taylor said.

A concept design of the plant, from a resource application for the proposed waste-to-energy plant near Glenavy.

“Solutions to Aotearoa New Zealand’s serious residual waste problem, such as Project Kea’s Energy from Waste technology, need to be fully considered as soon as possible.”

If Minister David Parker agreed to take over the process, Project Kea’s applications would be determined by either a board of inquiry or the Environment Court, instead of the regional or district council.

SIRRL director Paul Taylor says the company supports WDC and ECan’s request for the Environment Minister to call in resource applications for the plant.

The project was already on hold until October as SIRRL worked on getting a water permit for the plant after which a public hearing could take place.

Taylor said SIRRL was compiling the information required for a water permit at the moment, to be lodged with ECan “as soon as this is complete”.

The Forever House: Recycling our plasterboard waste.

If the application is “called in”, appeal rights from the final decision by either the Environment Court or a board of enquiry were also limited to appeals to the High Court on questions of law only.

Before “calling in” an application, the minister would consider several criteria and also any advice provided by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in deciding whether a matter was, or was part of, a proposal of “national significance”.

The minister would also be required to consider the views of the applicant and local authority, the capacity of the local authority, and recommendations of the EPA when making the decision whether to “call in” the applications.