Don’t Burn Waipa
The company wants to burn rubbish to create energy – but the trail on Global Contracting Solutions’ plans has gone cold.
An artist’s impression of Paewira. Photo: Supplied
It has been six weeks since the Environmental Protection Authority revealed it had stalled a hearing into the Te Awamutu project because the company owed fees.
And it has been almost that long since The News was able to make contact with Global Contracting Solutions.
Then, director Adam Fletcher told The News application costs had doubled one month before the inquiry and the company was working with the EPA to settle the matter.
Efforts to confirm the state of play with the EPA this week did not shed any more light – it repeated its statement that it was working with the company but did not respond to a question about when it and the company were last in contact.
The independent board of inquiry into the proposed plant was halted in mid-August when the EPA suspended the application.
Neither the authority or applicant have indicated when the outstanding bill for the application and three-week hearing might be settled, and the suspension lifted.
University of Waikato Te Piringa Faculty of Law Professor Barry Barton said it was a difficult situation in terms of where the statutory process now goes.
Barton, a director of the Environmental Defence Society, submitted against the application on the grounds that adverse effects were real, quantifiable and serious.
“I can’t see anywhere in the act which allows the EPA to close the file for non-payment after any particular period of suspension. The act does provide that if the payment is made, then the suspension is lifted, and processing will continue. But the act doesn’t say how long things can go on like that. One can only speculate. It leaves everybody in a state of suspense. One wonders how it could be brought to an end.
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.
The authority received 2173 submissions on the plan. Nearly two thirds were concerned with the effects on air quality, emissions, and human health.
Don’t Burn Waipā spokesman Nick Cantlon said the pressure group was puzzled about the delay in the process two weeks away from the hearing commissioners announcing a decision.
“We have asked the Environmental Protection Authority how long this pause could be in place, unfortunately we have not had a response that addresses our questions.
“The state of ‘limbo’ is very disconcerting and unsettling for our community, many of whom have put their lives on pause while we wait for a decision. People deserve to have this case closed so they can move forward with their lives and have confidence investing in Te Awamutu again.”
The company owes more than $100,000 to Waipā District Council and Waikato Regional Council, – who both submitted against the plan – but what it owes the Environmental Protection Authority has not been revealed.
Don’t burn Waipa
