‘Misinformation’ around Te Awamutu waste-to-energy plant, firm says

Thursday, 2 May 2024

The proposed Te Awamutu plant would incinerate waste and use the steam from that to generate electricity.

Controversial plans for a $200m-plus waste-to-energy plant in Te Awamutu may end up before the Environment Court or a hearing panel - if the Environmental Protection Authority gets its way.

And it’s a move backed by the company behind the proposal, Global Contracting Solutions, with cited fears of “misinformation“ and reduced “confidence in the ability of the councils to focus on reliable evidence.”

Waipā District Council says the EPA has come out in support of Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds ‘calling in’ the proposal - meaning it would be heard by a board of inquiry or the Environment Court rather than a hearing panel of independent commissioners.

The Global Contracting Solutions proposal is known as the Paewira Project and would involve trucking in 150,000 tonnes of rubbish - much of it from outside the district.

Adam Fletcher, project director Global Contracting Services, said GCS had become concerned about ‘misinformation’ around the planned project.

At a a purpose-built plant in Racecourse Road, Te Awamutu, it would be used to generate electricity from steam.

In a written statement to the Waikato Times by project director Adam Fletcher, GCS said that initially they “did not request or support any request for a call-in by the Minister on the basis that the Waikato Regional Council and the Waipā District Council are both well capable of hearing and determining the application with the assistance of well-qualified and experienced Independent Hearing Commissioners”.

“That view has now changed,” they said.

“GCS believes that the best course of action would be for the Minister to call in the proposal,” the statement said.

“GCS have become less confident in the benefits of localised decision making, with risks of the distraction and influence due to public campaigning and, in some cases, misinformation.

“The applicant’s confidence in the ability of the Councils to focus on reliable evidence over unsupported claims is now much reduced.

“We are concerned that the call-in process will restrict the non-partisan views of the public, which is unfortunate. However this is also an example of the importance of the new-fast track legislation becoming enacted as quickly as possible.”

The proposed site for the waste incinerator is on Racecourse Road in Te Awamutu.

Waikato Regional Council and Waipā District Council’s request for a call-in is supported by Waikato-Tainui and Te Nehenehenui.

The EPA is the government agency responsible for regulating activities that affect New Zealand’s environment.

In its advice to Simmonds, the EPA said the proposal was of national significance.

It had attracted widespread public and media attention and would be a first for New Zealand, the agency said.

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

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.

“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.