Don’t fund Don’t Burn Waipa.
That was the message Waipa District Council strategy group manager Kirsty Downey told Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board last week.
Protesters in Te Awamutu.
The board was considering a raft of funding applications for money from its discretionary fund.
The lobby group applied for $2000 to help pay for flyers and public submissions workshops in response to Hamilton-based Global Contracting Solutions’ application to build and operate a waste-to-energy plant in Waipā.
The Racecourse Road, Te Awamutu, application will be heard by a board of inquiry which is receiving submissions.
The board elected not to approve the funding.
Downey had warned providing funding could lead to wider reputational damage, “not only to the community board, but also to the wider council and also with that increased legal risks”.
She said the advocacy group, community board, and wider community could make their views known through the submission process which ends on December 18.
A digital illustration of Te Awamutu’s proposed waste to energy plant.
“This is a far more appropriate avenue to address this project, rather than the expenditure of public funds towards advocacy,” she said.
Board chair Ange Holt, who lives near the proposed site of the plant, and member Sally Whitaker both declared an interest in the Don’t Burn Waipā discussion.
Don’t Burn Waipa spokesperson Angie Barrowcliffe told the board the organisation wanted to get information to the community so that it could make an informed decision.
“…if they can prove that it is safe we won’t be against it, but I guess at this stage it’s yet to be decided by the RMA process.
“A lot of people want someone to ask questions, so we are trying to hold public meetings at the library. We’ve been relying on the generosity of local businesses and community members making donations and we just felt it was worth applying for some funding to help get that information to the community.”
Board deputy chair Kane Titchener, has previously signalled the board will draft a notice of motion opposing the application.
Residents marched in Te Awamutu to oppose the planned plant.
