Te Awamutu-Community Board member John Wood was behind one of eight submissions in favour of the building and operation of a waste to energy incineration plant in Te Awamutu.
John Wood
Wood ticked the “support parts or all” box on his submission to Waipā District Council in 2023 on Global Contracting Solutions’ plans to build and operate the incinerator on Racecourse Road as he acknowledged “both risks and benefits” with the application.
A majority of the community board, led by chair Ange Holt, oppose the plant, and the Waipā District Council has made a submission against it.
The council received 864 submissions objecting to the proposal.
“We need to find other ways to get rid of our rubbish other than going into land fill,” Wood said in his submission. “This is a good way of disposal of rubbish that does not break down easily, and it also provides some benefits. Power, hot water, steam for other uses.
“I do not see why the waste to energy plant and the waste minimisation plan cannot sit side by side…” Wood wrote.
A digital illustration of Te Awamutu’s proposed waste to energy plant.
“I see the Global Contracting Solutions Ltd proposal as an alternative to landfill with some flow on benefits while waste minimisation plans are initiated and enhanced.”
Wood also voiced concerns around enforcement of disruption during construction of the site, land values, and emissions regulations.
“Substantial volumes of ash and treatment water have been mentioned in the media. I understood that the output would be minimal. While I acknowledge there is a risk such as a traffic accident involving a truck carrying any hazardous waste, trucks carrying dangerous chemicals including from the nearby Fonterra plant already pass through the Waipā district and through Te Awamutu township,” he said.
“I believe the independent commissioners will have the knowledge and expertise to make a sound decision,” he concluded.
Waipā District Council and Waikato Regional Council asked Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds to call the application in rather than follow the usual resource consent process. Simmonds decided a Board of Inquiry would hear the application this year.
Kane Titchener
Community board deputy chair Kane Titchener was tasked with writing a submission opposing the application late last year on the grounds it would create dangerous toxins.
“The Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board with much opposition demonstrated by our communities, research and consideration oppose with a majority the proposal,” the submission Titchener penned for the community board said.
“We need to be focusing on recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. Raglan’s Xtreme Zero Waste has shown that it can recycle 75 per cent of what goes through their gate. By comparison, the incinerator is proposing to recycle only 17 per cent of waste. The incinerator will need a continuous supply of waste and by definition will not be encouraging a reduction in waste at all.”
Wood was absent from the meeting when the board’s submission was discussed.
Wood told The News he stood by his submission, although he wondered whether an alternative site could be found.
“Te Awamutu may not be the place to put it, but I don’t have an idea where else they could put it,” he said.
“What do we do with plastics? I have got paint tins I need to get rid of.”
Titchener was aware Wood was in favour of the proposal.
“I have not seen his submission,” he said.
“I was not aware that he had put one in. Only eight submissions for the application out of nearly 900 is incredible. But he’s entitled to his opinion.”
A digital mock-up of Paewira Recycle Plant feature image – supplied
