Don’t Burn Waipa
Environment minister Penny Simmonds is being called in to resolve Global Contracting Solutions’ suspended resource consent application to build and operate a waste to energy plant – Paewira – in Te Awamutu.
Penny Simmonds
Simmonds, who called in an independent board of inquiry to decide the matter, is now being asked to step in after the Environmental Protection Authority suspended the application on August 13 – two weeks before the decision was due to be released.
The authority said the process would be resumed after the applicant had paid undisclosed costs.
Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger contacted Simmonds’ office seeking a resolution after nearly two months of uncertainty.
“There is no process in place to resolve this,” said Kuriger.
“The minister’s office is looking at how there’s money not paid, and the money needs to be paid for the process to continue. It’s in limbo, caught up in red tape, and it’s a metaphorical red tape pain in the . . . I won’t say what. It’s damn frustrating for the community.”
A spokesman for Simmonds office confirmed the minister was receiving advice on the matter.
“There will be more information available in due course,” they said
Don’t Burn Waipa spokesperson Angie Barrowcliffe said the submitters deserved a decision whether the company had paid or not.
The EPA received 2173 submissions on the application and 64 per cent cited concerns about pollutant like dioxins and nano particles.
“We have all endured so much anguish and financial uncertainty over the past few years, and the best outcome would be to finally put this behind us,” she said.
“The decision was only days away from being released when it was put on hold, so surely it wouldn’t take much more to issue a final ruling and make it public. The community deserves to hear the outcome just as much as the company does.”
If the application was approved, Barrowcliffe said Don’t Burn Waipa would continue working to hold the company accountable to whatever conditions the Board of Inquiry deems acceptable.
“A pause is better than a yes, but the best outcome would be a firm no. That is what we are asking the minister to push for. A no gives us a strong precedent moving forward, for all the future companies that may try to do the same thing again and again.
Adam Fletcher
“This is another New Zealand Nuclear-Free moment—a time for us to stand united and say for the good of this country, we say no to emitting toxins into our air, land, and water. There are far better ways to produce power, and reduce, reuse, and regeneration are the keys to the earth’s survival—and ours—for generations to come.”
EPA senior communications advisor Julia Scott-Beetham told The News: “We are continuing to work with the applicant to resolve the matter and ensure the outstanding costs are paid. As these discussions are commercially sensitive, we won’t be commenting further at this time.”
Global Contracting Solutions project manager Adam Fletcher did not respond to requests for comment from The News.
Lobby group Don’t Burn Waipā – this photo comes from our files – was telling supporters about the Paewira application being suspended – while the EPA was telling The News to call back the next day.
