Proposed Canterbury landfill faces huge opposition

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

More than 500 submissions have been received in response to a proposed managed fill landfill in North Canterbury.

Christchurch-based Protranz International Ltd has applied to Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council for resource consents to establish and operate a quarry and landfill operation at White Rock.

Waimakariri District Council planning manager Wendy Harris said the applicant was up against ‘‘probably the most organised local group I’ve ever seen’’.

‘‘They organised a protest march, they’ve got signs all around and they’ve got a website and a Facebook page.’’

She said the 548 submissions was more than the 421 submissions to the draft Waimakariri District Plan, which was notified in 2021.

A proposed housing development at Ohoka, near Rangiora, in 2022 received 630 submissions.

While the details of the submissions have yet to be released, it is understood the majority are opposed.

Harris said planners from the two councils will plan joint hearings early next year.

More than 100 people marched from Southbrook in Rangiora to the Waimakariri District Council lawn in High St in September to express their opposition.

Organiser Mike McCaleb said residents are concerned about the potential environmental damage to the Karetu River, which feeds into the Okuku River, and then the Ashley/Rakahuri River.

He said he was surprised there were not more submissions but said he was aware of several people who had issues with Environment Canterbury’s website timing out.

‘‘It will be interesting to see the details of the submissions.’’

Protranz is seeking to restore the Whiterock Quarry, at 150 and 174 Quarry Rd, North Loburn, to near its previous landform, by filling it with managed fill, building and demolition waste and contaminated soil material, including asbestos.

The company bought Whiterock Quarry in 2022 with plans to fill it with soils and inert construction rubble removed from building and land development sites in Christchurch and North Canterbury, which are sent to Kate Valley Landfill.

‘‘Sending this stuff to Kate Valley adds a massive cost to developers, homeowners and community organisations who have dirt to move, and fills Kate Valley with material that can be better managed somewhere else,’’ Protranz founder Gerard Daldry said.

He said Protranz commissioned a wide range of testing including site investigations, technical assessments and design of the managed fill to support the resource consent applications.

The reports found environmental risks were ‘‘extremely low and able to be mitigated’’, Daldry said.

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