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Opposition to a proposed mega-dump off State Highway 1, on the northern side of the Dome Valley, was heard in Auckland’s High Court last week.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua and NZ Forest & Bird are appealing the Environment Court’s interim decision released in December to conditionally grant Waste Management resource consent for the regional landfill. Court documents at that time revealed that a major factor in that decision was Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust’s support for the dump.
The trust, which initially opposed the landfill, did a backflip after securing a deal with Waste Management worth $10 million, along with the promise of jobs and ownership of the 1010 hectare site once it was no longer needed for the landfill.
The 26 million cubic metre landfill will cover about 60 hectares of the site and is in the catchment of the Hōteo River and Kaipara Harbour. Opponents say the environmental impacts on the health of the harbour should outweigh Auckland’s need for a place to dump its rubbish.
The seven-day-a-week operation will generate around 300 truck movements a day through the Dome.
The week-long hearing in the High Court was presided over by Justice Christian Whata and was due to wrap up when Mahurangi Matters went to press last Friday. No date for a decision is known.
Meanwhile, Fight the Tip is continuing to appeal for financial support to help it stay in the fight. The group, which relies on fundraising and donations, did not have the financial capacity to appear in the High Court, but is supporting Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua and Forest & Bird. Organiser Michelle Carmichael says barrister Andrew Braggins is now working pro bono. Donations can be made to Fight the Tip Tiaki Te Whenua Incorporated, 12 3094 0274048 00.
