A sizeable crowd gathers before the start of Sunday’s march. Photo: Jeremy Smith
Protesters have questioned the time frame for submissions about a proposed waste to energy plant in Te Awamutu, saying many people are just finding out about it.
Submissions on a resource consent application for the plant, which would be built in Racecourse Road, close tomorrow and opponents marched in Te Awamutu on Sunday to say it was not wanted.
Global Contracting Solutions (GCS), which already processes and recycles waste in Auckland, Hamilton and New Plymouth, wants to build a plant – to be called Paewira.
Submissions on the plant have been open for a month. Protesters walked from Arawata St down Alexandra St to Waipā District Council’s Bank St offices and back.
They carried signs which – among others – read “ban the burn”, “God recycles, the devil burns”, “Waste of energy” and “Don’t turn Rosetown into Garbagetown”.
Chants of “two, four, six, eight… we will not incinerate,” were heard throughout.
Don’t Burn Waipa committee member and march organiser Angie Barrowcliffe told The News many residents were only just finding out about the proposal.
She has vowed the “ludicrous” idea will be stopped.
“It will poison us with dioxin, pollute the air, water, land, add to climate change and cause social and economic damage,” she said in a statement.
An online petition launched by Go Eco and Zero Waste Network Aotearoa under the moniker “Don’t Burn Waipa” calling for the proposed project to stop has attracted more than 1700 signatures.
“I’m so proud of all those who came out to the march and made their voices heard,” Barrowcliffe said after Sunday’s march.
Among those marching on Sunday were father and son Andrew and Ethan Moir, who told The News they had multiple worries about Paewira.
“We don’t want it in any place in New Zealand full stop, let alone here in Te Awamutu,” Andrew Moir said. Ethan Moir said a key aim of the march was awareness.
“We want as many people as possible to know this project is proposed, because it seems so many still don’t.”
Shay Coldrick, who lives near where the plant could be built, said the existing road wouldn’t cope with the proposed increased traffic volume.
“You can feel the vibrations that the heavy traffic which already uses the road creates.”
Opponents have also pointed to the close suburban site for the proposed plant and its close proximity to schools.
Margaret Anne McQuillan said if Paewira went ahead it would have dire consequences for New Zealand’s clean, green image both here and overseas.
Barrowcliffe said Paewira would burn municipal waste, plastics, tyres and flock from other areas outside Waipā and would be trucked into Te Awamutu.
She said incinerators were outdated technology, and waste minimisation was the solution, not toxic burning.
