Paewira Project owners disappointed by ministerial consent call-in

Friday, 9 February 2024

The proposed location for the ‘Paewira Project’ waste-to-energy plant in Te Awamutu.

Managers of a controversial waste-to-energy plant proposed for Te Awamutu say they are disappointed by moves made by local government to seek ministerial intervention in the consent process.

On Wednesday, the Waipā District Council joined the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) in asking the Environment Minister to “call-in” a proposal which could see Global Contracting Solutions (GCS) incinerate up to 150,000 tonnes of rubbish a year at a purpose-built $200m plant in Racecourse Rd.

Known as the Paewira Project, the plant would bring rubbish, much of it trucked in from outside the district, to the site where it would be used to generate electricity from steam.

Locals along Racecourse Rd in Te Awamutu are concerned the project could see hundreds of trucks bring waste from outside the district to the plant every week.

In December, the Waikato Regional Council asked Environment Minister Penny Simmonds to call in the proposal so that greenhouse gas emissions could be considered.

While many locals are against the proposal, which saw more than 1700 public submissions sent to both councils, Paewira Project chairman Roger Wilson said the plant had been designed to comply with all relevant Resource Management Act requirements, including health and lifestyle outcomes.

“We are very conscious of being a good neighbour, employer and corporate citizen,” he said.

Plant owners say they have developed an innovative solution to waste management and climate change.

“We welcome appropriate process and robust consideration, given it is such an innovative development – the first of its kind in New Zealand.

“As we’ve stated before, we have deep respect for the resource consent process and relevant environmental considerations, as well as the Te Awamutu community.

“Our world needs innovative solutions to waste management and climate change – Paewira is just that, utilising innovation that has been proven around the world.”

Wilson said was disappointing the local bodies had decided to call in the project.

“We consider the Resource Management Act to prescribe a process for this type of decision to be made at a local level.

“We take some confidence with neither local government body being able to raise a reason to outright decline the application,” Wilson said.

“It is our view the ‘call-in’ resolution moves the consent decision to a New Zealand-wide consideration.

“Anecdotal evidence from around the world demonstrates energy-from-waste has a role in the waste hierarchy and a facility with the proposed technology and scale is entirely appropriate.”

Wilson said time frames for the project would be determined by the granting of necessary consents and GCS were committed to delivering a successful project.

He said project managers were concerned there was inaccurate information circulating about the proposed project and encouraged those interested in it to visit their website, paewira.co.nz, or their Facebook page to “ensure that everyone has the correct information about Paewira”.