My Account
Flawed processes
I cannot let the Dome Valley landfill scenario pass without providing a voice of reason.
When Waste Management NZ (WM) commenced the Dome process they were owned by Beijing Capital Group. Therefore, the landfill was Beijing/Chinese Government owned and driven. In 2018, WM was given Overseas Investment Office approval to buy the land, stating a decline would adversely impact China’s investments in NZ.
The Auckland Council process started with the Department of Conservation opposing it strongly. The opposition driven by Michelle Carmichael has been very strong. Outstanding in fact.
But the NZ courts have been wishy washy on the consent outcome.
The obvious choice of an energy from waste (EfW) solution was not aired well and gained no traction, particularly when we are talking about 1.6m tonnes of Auckland waste per annum.
The facts are that Beijing Capital Group sold WM in 2022 to Igneo Infrastructure Partners (IIP) of Sydney. IIP is owned by First Sentier Investors (FSI), which is owned by Mitsubishi. Igneo is a sister company of Enfinium UK, one of the largest EfW processers in the UK. Enfinium has four operational EfW plants in the UK, consuming 2.3 million tonnes of waste annually and generating 265MW, with two more plants under construction.
So, what does all this mean in today’s terms?
- The original OIO land consent was flawed. Beijing have long departed.
- No other country in the world would fill in a pristine valley with leaching toxins
- Trucking 1.6m tonnes using diesel on marginal roads is preposterous
- EfW is alive and well in all countries, but dismissed in a cursory manner in NZ
- NZ/Auckland is critically short of power from EfW
- NZ has enough infrastructure issues affecting “clean green NZ” without this nonsense.
Anyone looking back in 30 years time will be appalled at this process allowing a pristine valley to be initially bought by the government of China to fill with NZ waste. How could anyone let this happen? Absurd!
The solution is to withdraw the flawed OIC Dome land consent, initiate a EfW scope, ask WM to quote as they are already in the business, explain two other external quotes are being sought so as to be “arm’s length commercial”. Job done!
Don Sollitt, Kaipara Flats
Recycling challenge
I just wanted to make a comment on the dual articles in the Mahurangi Matters (Feb 19), regarding the recycling of plastic: “Re-valuing non-recyclable plastic” under the Science banner on page 16, and “New recycling rules” on page 17.
As a rebuttal to both these articles, I would like to refer you to an article on the Plastic Soup Foundation website entitled Recycling Myth at https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/en/plastic-problem/bogus-solutions/recycling-myth/
Their contention, in a nutshell, is that plastic recycling just doesn’t happen and probably never will.
A personal comment. Back in the 1990s, I worked for a US multinational company in New Zealand. Their mantra way back then was ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ – in that order.
Recycling is the proverbial ambulance at the bottom of the cliff – not the saviour of the planet.
Ray Eder, Warkworth
Logical solution
Bureaucracy fudging again puts remedial work on the worst intersection in NZ on hold (MM, Feb 19), justification by Auckland Council being the termination of the temporary fuel tax imposed upon road users.
Surely this council and the fantastic few members of the Rodney Local Board can now focus the “temporary”, but tacitly permanent, Rodney targeted transport rate on this project. There is surely no higher transport project priority for this “temporary” levy than remedy of the worst intersection in NZ.
But don’t hold your breath, folks. Bureaucracy in motion in the ‘not so super’ city has a way of impeding the most logical of actions.
John Griffin, Sandspit
What is Rebus?
I am the President of Warkworth Men’s Rebus Club (formerly Probus), a friendship and fellowship club for older retired men. Many of our members have served with Lions and Rotary and similar clubs. Our aim is to provide a venue for social interaction between active older members of the community.
We don’t fundraise – many have done their fair share of that – the only commitment we ask is that you attend our meetings.
We meet on the third Monday of every month at Shoesmith Hall, where we have a speaker or two to talk about a wide range of topics.
We usually have a club speaker from among our members who will give a short talk and we set aside time to enjoy tea, coffee and biscuits and a chance to talk to interesting people. We also have a monthly coffee morning where we meet at a different local café for a chat. Coffee mornings are always well attended. In addition, I am planning other activities that will be suitable for our 60-plus age group. Our next meeting will be March 18 at 10am.
For further information about the wider society of Rebus Incorporated NZ, see www.rebus.nz
All visitors are welcome – come and join us.
Stephen Beckett, Warkworth
