The Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland Conservation Board has spoken in opposition of Waste Management’s application for a
resource consent for a new Class 1 landfill in the Wayby Valley, and against a change to the Auckland Unitary Plan.
Lyn Mayes, Chair of the Board expressed concern about the choice of the site due to several reasons, namely the serious
impact on a number of threated species; as well as concerns about the increased risk of sediment flow from the site into
the region’s waterways.
“As well as the very serious impact a Class 1 landfill will have on the local environment, already threatened species,
and the potential to destroy the fragile ecosystems and waterways of the wider region; the Board has grave concerns as
to why the applicant (Waste Management) hadn’t put forward other site options.
“We would expect that the applicant must have considered, and then rejected, other landfill site options. In the absence
of this information, it is impossible to conclude why Wayby Valley, which is so close to the Sunnybrook Reserve and the
Hōteo River, has been chosen over other sites. In addition, there has been no detail provided about why existing
landfills at Redvale, Whitford or Hampton Downs, which already service the Auckland region, have not been selected for
expansion.
“It is also not possible for the applicant to provide mitigation for the known cultural and environmental affects, nor
the significant risks posed to the Hōteo River,” says Ms Mayes.
Ms Mayes says that urban development across the region is already having a major impact on sediment discharges into
waterways; and, adverse rainfall events are forecast to be increasingly intense and more frequent under most scenarios
for climate change in the region.
“It is highly unlikely that the applicant could guarantee that a significant rainfall event would not lead to discharge
of sediment into the catchment, which ultimately has a flow on effect to all connected waterways, including the already
massively overloaded Kaipara Harbour,” says Ms Mayes.
The Board also questions why Auckland Council, that aspires to be zero waste by 2040, supports this development.
“Around the world, Governments are turning away from landfills as a waste management solution and are working towards
waste minimisation and more sustainable waste to energy options.”
“We do not consider that it is acceptable for Auckland Council as the unitary authority to allow the re-designation of
this pristine area for such a high impact high risk purpose without justification.”