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Controversy over the extension of the Redvale landfill is set to continue ahead of operator Waste Management (WM) releasing the results of its public consultation on June 2.
Redvale is one of four Class 1 landfills operational in the Auckland region, and its resource consent is due to expire in 2028. However, ongoing issues have delayed the opening of a 1000-hectare regional landfill planned for the area between Wayby and the Dome Valley, which is now not expected to open until 2036.
This means WM has to bridge the seven to eight year gap, with Aucklanders forecast to produce about four million tonnes of waste over this time (Mahurangi Matters, March 17, 2025).
Independent analysis by environmental and engineering consultants Tonkin + Taylor identified four possible options, including a new landfill, alternative technologies, and waste reduction but found that adding capacity at Redvale was the most viable interim solution.
WM’s favoured proposal is to keep Redvale open for a further seven to eight years until the Wayby site is operational.
In late March, the company launched public consultation to gather feedback on the Redvale extension idea and other options. Public information sessions were held including, at the Dairy Flat Community Hall, followed by additional meetings in early April (including online webinars) to inform residents and answer questions about the proposals.
The consultation period remained open for six weeks and closed on May 11.
During this time, Auckland Council’s Waste Solutions division said it also assessed WM’s proposals and prepared its own submission. However, Council’s 2023 Waste Assessment report had already identified the risk if the Wayby landfill was delayed, stating that it takes a minimum of seven years “to identify, designate, design and build new Class 1 landfill infrastructure.”
However, in a surprising turnaround, one of the barriers to the resource consent was removed in May when, after six years of opposition, Ngāti Whātua announced it no longer opposed the Wayby plan. (Mangawhai Focus, May 19 , 2025).
Once released, a summary of the public consultation findings will be shared by WM via its website and social media channels, and it is expected to detail the preferred solution and key themes from community feedback, which WM said will inform its next steps.
Over the years, Dairy Flat residents have reported a number of concerns about the landfill, chiefly odour and air quality.
Additionally, noise and traffic remain ongoing issues. As 50 per cent of Auckland’s waste is transported to Redvale, (325 trucks per day) extending the landfill means prolonging heavy truck traffic on Dairy Flat Highway and associated noise for those living along this transport route.
The WM consultation information can be found at www.wm.nz/consultation/
