Despite assuring the Waimate community that they would not submit a resource consent application until they had addressed residents’ concerns, the company has done just that. The full scope of this company’s plans is now clear. They intend to stockpile vast amounts of waste, build the plant in a flood-prone area, and use a staggering 2.5 million litres of fresh water daily, 365 days a year. They also...

“We know waste to energy produces climate impacting greenhouse gases, persistent pollutants that can bio-accumulate in land and marine food chains and can inflict air pollution impacts on local communities.”“The people of Waimate and beyond have a right to all the information to make informed decisions, feedback, and submissions about what is happening in their community.” “If the claim is that this project is using technology other than...

The Kea Conservation Trust has expressed concern over a company’s decision to use Kea branding for its proposed $350 million waste-to-energy plant at Waimate, warning that it could be perceived as cultural appropriation. South Island Resource Recovery Ltd (SIRRL) has named its proposal to build the plant Project Kea using an image of a kea. Trust chair Tamsin Orr-Walker was quick to clarify, “The use of the name...