Controversial waste to energy plant proposal reaches enviro minister’s desk
Friday, 15 December 2023
A controversial waste to energy plant proposal for Te Awamutu has been flagged with central government.
The Waikato Regional Council has asked the Environment Minister to “call in” the consent application to allow the council time to review the project’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Global Contracting Solutions has applied to build a waste to energy plant in Racecourse Rd, Te Awamutu and wants to incinerate 150,000 tonnes of rubbish annually to generate steam to turn into electric power.
The more than $200 million project has been described by opponents as a “toxic incinerator” with rubbish being trucked in from outside the district to fuel its boilers.
Consent applications have been received by the regional council for discharges to air and water, and by the Waipā District Council to construct and operate the plant.
In total, more than 1700 submissions have recently been received by both councils, with the vast majority opposing the plant.
Acting regional consents manager Hugh Keane acknowledged there had been strong community interest in the proposal, with 575 submitters indicating they wanted to be heard.
“The submissions indicate a large amount of public concern relating to technology, processes or methods that submitters believe are new to Aotearoa New Zealand and may affect the environment.”
Keane said the regional council felt the proposal reached the threshold to be considered of national significance in accordance with various factors listed in Section 142(3) of the Resource Management Act.
“Our consents staff have assessed the application and identified there is potential for greenhouse gas emissions and effects on climate change.”
He said of particular relevance were whether the proposal “affects or is likely to affect or is relevant to New Zealand’s international obligations to the global environment” and “results or is likely to result in or contribute to significant or irreversible changes to the environment, including the global environment”.
Keane said the application was lodged prior to Resource Management Act amendments made in November 2022 which allow for the consideration of greenhouse gas emissions and the effects on climate change of activities.
“This means the regional council cannot consider the effects of greenhouse gas on climate change. But if the application is called in by Minister Penny Simmonds, we understand a Board of Inquiry or Environment Court can take this into account.”
He said the letter was sent to the Environment Minister today and Global Contracting Solutions had been notified.
“Given a joint hearing was being planned, we have liaised directly with Waipā District Council on this issue,” Keane said. “We understand a decision on requesting a call in will be made by Waipa’s elected members at their February 2024 council meeting.”