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Plans to build a controversial waste-to-energy plant on the West Coast have been scrapped.The announcement came after it was revealed that Buller Mayor Garry Howard had signed what appears to be an agreement to give the Westport plant the go-ahead without telling the public or district councillors. This revelation sparked controversy and public outcry, leading to the cancellation of the project. The agreement was between Renew Energy Ltd and Chinese company China Tianying Inc., which Howard signed while visiting China in May 2018. The agreement stated that China Tianying would build a Waste to Energy plant in Westport with resource consent valid for 30 years. The document states that the council will supply water, make a road to the plant, own the land, and lease it back to the company. It also includes costs and fees, which have been redacted. It also says the council will supply a landfill for the ash the plant will produce. Read More

The Buller District councillors voted on Thursday to show they had “no confidence” in Mayor Garry Howard after it was earlier revealed he signed an apparent agreement to give a proposed waste-to-energy plant in Westport the go-ahead without telling the public or councillors. Cr Dave Hawes said the deal would have bankrupted the council if approved. It included a price for water that would have meant the waste-to-energy company would have been paying only 8 per cent of what Westport residents paid for water. Read More

Howard’s trip would cost the ratepayers $4000. He would be joined by Buller district council’s economic development officer, John Hill, and two representatives from Waste to Energy West Coast Ltd, Gerard Gallagher and Mark McIntyre. The West Coast Economic Development fund would cover Hill’s trip. Mayor Howard said the plant building could employ up to 100 people and up to 1000 during the $250 million construction. READ MORE