Controversial Greymouth landfill public hearing recommended
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Fresh resource consent applications by a controversial private landfill near Greymouth could now go to a public hearing.
West Coast Regional Council staff on June 4 advised the council's Resource Management Committee fresh applications for Taylorville Resource Park should be referred to an independent panel.
They include an application to vary an existing consent and two new discharge consents relating to odour and water leachate, which is the runoff that filters through landfill waste.
Council planning consultant Selva Selvarajah said they had reviewed the fresh applications and engaged an expert consultant for an assessment.
The new report was in train but it was awaiting fresh information from the applicant, "who have been asked to provide answers," he said.
"We will be recommending to publicly notify the resource consent applications," Selvarajah said.
In line with this, the application should be heard by an independent commissioner panel, he said.
Chief executive Darryl Lew said an independent commissioner could be appointed on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae.
However, given various comments at the council table previously about the Taylorville site, the two current regional councillors accredited as hearing commissioners were "probably conflicted" about appointment to an independent panel, he said.
Whether the Grey District Council, as an interested party, would follow a similar panel process was not yet known, Lew said.
The landfill site was first granted consents on a non-notified basis by council for what is now Taylorville Resource Park, in 2021 and 2022.
But the site has been dogged with controversy, including the district council flagging its unhappiness at not being considered an affected party in the first place - despite its Greymouth town water supply being adjacent to the proposed landfill.
There have also been multiple neighbour complaints to the regional council including odour, dust, and water leachate from the site resulting in several previous abatements.
The council itself commissioned an independent audit of its role in giving consent - with damning findings in mid-2023.
The site is currently under an abatement notice from the Environmental Protection Authority after the regional council asked it to take over its ongoing investigation of the site early this year.
A WorkSafe investigation has yet to formally conclude after two workers were overcome by gas within the site on August 3, 2023.
Councillor Allan Birchfield, who has a relationship to the consultant used for the site's original applications, questioned the evidence of "ongoing odour discharges".
Lew said there had been several "verified breaches".
"That's been well documented and recorded. They have also released discharge from water at the site onto adjacent property and that water has had a degree of contamination," he said.
Birchfield asked if the landfill was so bad, why was the Environmental Protection Authority allowing the site to still operate under its current abatement?
Lew said Birchfield would need to ask the authority.
Selvarajah said the main issue at hand was the fresh consent process rather than the compliance issues.
Councillor Peter Ewen said when it came to complaints under the Resource Management Act, "it's never a numbers game: it's about the complaint".
From the outset the implications of allowing the site consent in a high rainfall area without measures to handle run off from the site had been problematic, he said.
"That's why we have ended up where we have ended up - just another end game."
Lew said at this point there was little more council could do.
"There is nothing we can do to fully shutdown the site at all, as long as they are abiding by their existing consents."
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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Have your say on Canterbury’s public transport
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury residents are being encouraged to have their say on public transport in the region.
Environment Canterbury has released its draft public transport plan and is seeking submissions.
The draft plan outlines a vision for public transport in the region and notes key priorities such as improving the environment, growing patronage, accessibility, innovation and technology, and affordability.
‘‘Public transport takes many forms with communities across our region,’’ councillor Peter Scott said.
‘‘With limited funding available, we need to make sure we make the best decisions to deliver a public transport network that is integrated with urban development, innovative and meets the needs of new and existing customers.
‘‘Effective public transport is the lifeline that connects us to work, school, recreation and our friends and family, so it is important we get this right.’’
The Canterbury’s population is growing and by 2050, it is projected 700,000 people will be living in Greater Christchurch.
The draft plan covers public transport for the region, which includes the Metro service (Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri), MyWay by Metro in Timaru, Total Mobility and Community Vehicle Trusts.
It was developed in partnership with local councils and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Environment Canterbury has been planning to step up its public transport efforts by increasing the frequency of existing services and introducing mass rapid transport in Greater Christchurch.
But these plans have been stalled by a lack of public transport funding in the Government’s 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
A proposal to allow people to travel with domestic pets is also included in the draft plan.
Having pets on buses has been successfully trial in other parts of New Zealand, councillor Joe Davies said.
‘‘We’re keen to understand what controls are needed for our bus users in Greater Christchurch and Timaru to be comfortable with pets on public transport.
It is proposed to allow adult passengers to bring a single pet on board, as long it is in an approved carrier at off-peak times, weekdays between 9am and 3pm or after 6pm, and during weekends.
Another proposal would loosen those restrictions in future to allow for leashed and muzzled dogs and increasing the limit to two pets per passenger.
‘‘We want to gauge how people feel about these proposals. Now is the time to have your say,’’ Davies said.
Submissions close on Thursday, October 24.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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