Te Rūnanga o Waihao chairperson Dardanelle McLean-Smith said they do not support South Island Resource Recovery Ltd (SIRRL’s) proposal, or its inclusion on the Fast-Track list, a move which had increased their concerns “exponentially”.The iwi had been “really disappointed” in the lack of transparency from SIRRL throughout the application process.“Community input is very important, and from a mana whenua perspective, we are strongly positioned as kaitiaki within our...

 Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley recalls how “highly disappointing SIRRL’s approach to community communication had been.“ At a Waimate District Council public workshop, on November 19, 2024, Waimate mayor Craig Rowley described SIRRL’s approach to community communication as ‘disgusting’. “When it comes to the proposed waste-to-energy plant, I’m disappointed, disgusted in the way that this council and our ratepayers have been treated, in the way that we have heard...

On December 1, 2024, Why Waste Waimate sent a letter to Fast-track minister Christopher Bishop raising concerns about the inclusion of SIRRL’s incinerator proposal on the list of projects included for fast-track approval. In a December 30, 2024, Timaru Herald article, SIRRL responded with director Paul Taylor stating the letter contained “factual errors, and has resulted in the company seeking legal advice over possible defamation proceedings”. When requested by the Timaru Herald to elaborate...