Protesters in Te Awamutu against the waste to energy plant.
Environment Court Judge Brian Dwyer will chair the inquiry into Global Contracting Solutions’ resource consent application to build a giant incinerator in Te Awamutu.
He will be joined by Resource Management Act hearings commissioner Nicholas Manukau and air quality specialist Myles McCauley.
Penny Simmonds
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds announced the line up.
The inquiry will assess more than 900 public submissions, most of them against the proposal, and make the final decision on the plant proposed for Racecourse Road.
Opposition will come from Waipā District Counicl.
Submissions close on December 18, and the board has nine months to make a decision.
Meanwhile, Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board has appointed deputy chair Kane Titchener to finalise the board’s submission opposing the plan after chair Ange Holt declared an interest and stepped out of the latest board meeting.
Kane Titchener
Holt lives near the proposed site.
Titchener proposed the board append a report commissioned by Waikato Regional Council into the implications of waste to energy technology in New Zealand, a plume report and request further information from the applicant about its disposal plan for contaminated toxic water.
Council strategy group manager Kirsty Downey told the board the council was opposing the application.
“This is new technology, and this is a new process for Waipā District Council. We’re not experts in this.
Kirsty Downey
“We’re not a in a position to engage experts to assist in the preparation of submissions. So we’ve really focussed on those matters that have been identified by the community that really focusses on community and social effects, also the impact of the proposal in terms of location, amenity, wellbeing, and iwi mana whenua consideration.”
Council strategic projects driver Mieke Heyns said the overarching theme in the submission was that council was looking for more evidence and asking the board of inquiry to ask for more information.
She recommended the community board ask questions in its submissions.
“If you really want to hammer home certain points, put it in there.”
An artist’s impression of the proposed plant.
