Two of the three members of Te Awamutu’s waste to energy plant board of inquiry have declared previous business relationships with three of the submitters but say it won’t influence the outcome of the hearing.
A digital mock-up of Paewira Recycle Plant feature image – supplied
Accredited Resource Management Act hearings commissioner Nicholas Manukau and air quality specialist Myles McCauley declared their interests in Global Contracting Solutions’ resource consent application via board minutes posted on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
Global Contracting Solutions wants to build and operate the plant on Racecourse Road, Te Awamutu.
Manukau, a tribal member of Tainui, said he understood Waikato-Tainui had lodged a submission to the Board and would not engage in any discussion that Tainui has regarding the application or the hearing.
He also declared working relationships with Waikato Regional Council, which has also lodged a submission.
South Island based McCauley worked on resource consent applications and assessments of environmental effects for Fonterra milk processing plants from 2007 until 2013.
“Several of these were in the Waikato region, including a peer review role for work on the site at Te Awamutu,” he said in the minutes.
Board of inquiry chair Environment Court Judge Brian Dwyer said, in the minutes, the board members did not regard any of these interests as affecting their independence or their ability to be members of the board and reach a decision on the merits of the cases presented.
“However, the board members consider that this disclosure is important for the integrity of the inquiry process.”
Paewira Energy-from-Waste project director Adam Fletcher was aware of the minutes.
“We have got no concerns,” he said. “We are comfortable with the board and their level of experience.”
The Environmental Protection Authority received 478 written submissions on behalf of the board before submissions closed on December 18.
This is in addition to 900 submissions received by Waipā District Council, mostly in opposition, before the application was called in to the inquiry by Environment Minister Penny Simmonds.
Waipā District Council is among objectors.
A pre-hearing meeting for submitters and the applicant to discuss procedural matters will be held at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on February 20.
The full hearing is expected to be in June.
An aerial view of Paewira’s proposed ‘footprint’ in Racecourse Rd. Photo: Supplied.
