My Account
The decision to approve the construction of a super dump in the Dome Valley is wrong on many fronts. It disrespects mana whenua and the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi, it will damage not only the immediate environment but potentially the kai moana in the Kaipara Harbour, it promotes yesterday’s technology to meet the needs of a modern city and lastly, but certainly not least, it runs rough-shod over the community.
Auckland Council has shown its true colours by first opposing the consent and then conveniently changing its stance to support the proposal. It is hypocritical to promote a Climate Plan on one hand and then condone transporting hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste every year, from one side of Auckland to the other, and burying it in a pristine environment. In what universe could this ever be justified?
Only the Hearing Panel chair, Sheena Tapiana, had the courage to stand up to the might of Council, Waste Management and who knows what else. She was let down by the other four commissioners who bowed to this pressure. Because let’s be clear, it doesn’t matter whether there are three or 3000 conditions attached to this consent, the fundamental principle of building a massive dump in the Dome Valley – out of sight and out of mind of most Aucklanders – is immoral. And to those who live further afield and say this opposition is just nimbism (Not In My Backyard), think again. A council that can accept a decision that is politically expedient, regardless of community and mana whenua views, means that no neighbourhood is safe.
People are justifiably angry, very angry, at the decision. They should use that emotion to fight on – join the Fight the Tip, Save the Dome group, write to MPs and Auckland Councillors and, at the very least, donate to help fund the battle looming in the Environment Court.
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