Submissions open for Canterbury landfill proposal

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

The public will get to have a say on a controversial proposal to build a landfill in North Canterbury.

Christchurch firm Protranz Earthmoving Ltd has lodged resource consent applications with Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council to establish a managed fill landfill at its quarry at White Rock, near North Loburn.

About 100 White Rock and Loburn residents attended a public meeting in February and have since formed an incorporated society to organise their opposition to the landfill proposal.

Those concerns led to the Rangiora-Ashley Community Board making the decision in July to prepare a submission against the landfill.

Board chairperson Jim Gerard said at the time community board members had decided to stand alongside the local community, who were concerned about the risks to groundwater and the local Karetu River.

Earlier this month, the Waimakariri District Council approved $10,000 funding towards the community board’s submission, allowing it to seek professional advice, such as an independent planner, legal advisor or other technical expert.

The quarry will be for the disposal of building and demolition waste, and contaminated soil material.

The two councils have jointly notified the consents, with submissions closing on October 9.

Two consent applications have been lodged with Environment Canterbury for land use, water permits and discharge permits.

The application to the Waimakariri District Council is for vegetation clearance within waterway margins, earthworks for the formation of a managed fill landfill, a bridge structure within a waterway setback and increased rates of mineral extraction.

The company has also applied to operate a managed fill landfill, construction of stormwater outfalls, earthworks and material storage associated with quarrying and landfill construction.

The application includes an assessment of the environmental effects.
Protranz general manager Shaun Coakley said his company had requested the consents be publicly notified.

‘‘We knew the development of critical infrastructure such as a managed fill landfill would attract attention from the local community, hence our decision to voluntarily publicly notify.

‘‘Whether by providing additional information that clarifies their issues or collaborating to establish consent conditions that mitigate their concerns, we're committed to an open dialogue.’’

White Rock residents are planning to gather at the Loburn Domain at 9.30am this Saturday, to carpool into Rangiora for a protest.

The protestors plan to march through Rangiora, before gathering outside the council chambers.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.