The Don’t Burn Waipā lobby group has asked the dairy industry to speak out against plans for a waste-to-energy plant in Te Awamutu.
Residents marched in Te Awamutu to oppose the planned plant.
Don’t Burn Waipā spokesperson Eoin Fitzpatrick has written to dairy co-operative Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) chief executive David Chin, DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker and Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland asking them to join the fight against the building of the plant.
Penny Simmonds
Hamilton-based Global Contracting Solutions’ application to build and operate a waste-to-energy plant called Paewira in Racecourse Road was called in to the Environment Protection Agency by Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds at the request of Waikato Regional Council in August, meaning the decision will be made by a board of inquiry.
“I am sure you are aware that a new round of submissions has been announced,” Fitzpatrick wrote in an email to the rural leaders. “I would like to encourage your organisations to lodge submissions and share with your employees, customers, suppliers, and shareholders as if this goes ahead it will be detrimental for all of us.
“I feel we have been let down by local, regional and national governments – who despite continued pleas have allowed this process to continue – causing economic and social damage in our community.”
Fitzpatrick told The News he was concerned with the dioxins the waste-to-energy plant would produce and suggested its proposed location on land zoned for dairy industrial use was ludicrous, being close to residential properties, Te Awamutu College, Te Wananga Aotearoa, The Barnyard pre-school, Fonterra, and Manuka Health.
“I am genuinely concerned about the lack of opposition to this from the people we pay to look after our best interests,” he said.
“What kind of government focuses on road cones when we have foreign companies trying to push their dirty and poisonous industries into our environment when we are in the midst of a climate crisis and talking about trying to leave the world in a better place for future generations?”
The company has painted a completely different picture, saying the plant would create 60 jobs and “unlock opportunities to educate future generations about waste minimisation, clean up the nearby Mangapiko Stream, and celebrate the people of Ngāti Apakura and their connection to the land”.
Hamilton based Craig Tuhoro said his company processes up to 100,000 tonnes of scrap metal a year, but the 18,000 tonnes of waste floc it send to landfill was too much, so he looked for a solution and found one used successfully in Europe.
Fonterra is opposing the application, and The News understands DairyNZ is joining the opposition.
Don’t Burn Waipa secretary Nick Cantlon asked Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board to nominate a person with community knowledge to serve on the board of inquiry. The board is drafting a notice of motion opposing the application.
Submissions close December 18 with the Environmental Protection Authority.
An artist’s impression of the proposed plant.
