WM and Council lawyers: No reason not to consent

Waste Management lawyer Bal Matheson.

Waste Management NZ’s lawyer, Bal Matheson, dismissed most of the appellants’ objections and concerns, stating that many presented low, negligible or even no risk at all.

During his day-long, 90-page closing submissions, he insisted that although fears of the landfill failing and causing environmental damage downstream might be understandable, it would not happen.

“The risk of catastrophic failure of the landfill such that it would decimate the Hoteo Awa and the Kaipara Moana is so remote and negligible that it must be put on one side,” he said.
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