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In a desperate attempt to build a regional landfill, south of Wellsford, waste management company WM New Zealand plans to lodge a fast-track approval application next month.
The company says the move is necessary to secure Auckland’s future waste disposal needs and bring an end to landfill operations at Redvale in Dairy Flat, which has a consent that expires in 2028.
The proposed landfill site in Wayby Valley was originally granted consent in 2021 following a lengthy public consultation process under the Resource Management Act (RMA), but a series of legal appeals has delayed progress.
WM managing director Evan Maehl said the company was looking to preserve an alternative consenting pathway while appeals continue through the courts.
“Our focus is on securing Auckland’s waste infrastructure system for the long term and providing more certainty on when the transition from Redvale to Wayby can take place,” Maehl said.
“This is a vital project for us and Auckland, so we are asking ministers to allow us to preserve an option that may prove to be the best and most efficient path forward.”
The company had initially planned to open the new landfill in late 2028, coinciding with the expiry of Redvale’s current consent. However, ongoing legal challenges mean the project is now unlikely to be operational until the mid-2030s if it remains on its current course.
The move follows the Government’s decision in April to refer an interim extension of Redvale to the fast-track process. WM says that extension is essential because the replacement landfill will not be ready before Redvale’s consent expires.
Maehl said much of the technical and environmental assessment work required for the new landfill had already been completed and could be adapted for the fast-track process.
“We’re ready to go. The technical work and environmental assessments, conditions and mitigations are already done and can be largely repurposed,” he said.
The company has the support of iwi partner Ngāti Manuhiri and is consulting with councils, regulators, neighbours and other affected parties before lodging its application.
WM warned that failure to maintain landfill capacity after 2028 could have significant consequences for Auckland.
Around 600,000 tonnes of waste each year would need to be transported elsewhere across the region, increasing disposal costs for households, businesses and construction projects.
The company also said illegal dumping could rise and environmental impacts could worsen if suitable disposal sites were unavailable.
The project remains before the courts, with the Court of Appeal scheduled to hear an appeal from Forest & Bird in August. The case centres on the interpretation of freshwater protection policies and could have wider implications for infrastructure projects nationwide.
“The Auckland Regional Landfill will provide safe management of Auckland’s waste for years to come,” Maehl said.
“We need options so we can end the delays and get it built.”
