Concerned residents from the Manawatū town of Feilding are urging the regional council to hold public hearings about a proposed waste-to-energy plant.
Artist impression of Bioplant's proposed waste-to-energy plant in the Manawatū town of Feilding. Photo: Bioplant
Horizons Regional Council, which covers the Manawatū-Whanganui region, is assessing Bioplant's resource consent application for a pyrolysis operation near the town.
Using the pyrolysis method, Bioplant plans to set up plants in Feilding, Gisborne and Hokitika to burn rubbish from those centres and turn it into fuel.
Angela Baker was one of about a dozen people, some from the environmental group Zero Waste Network, who picketed the regional council office in Palmerston North this week with concerns about the Feilding plant.
Baker said she understood Horizons would soon make a decision about whether the resource consent would be publicly notified, which would mean holding hearings and giving people the chance to make submissions.
"We're really concerned about there [not] being public input in that decision or the whole process, because we fear there's a danger that Horizons will make it a non-notified consent," she said.
"That means that nobody will have any input. It will be a done deal."
If that were to happen, the Zero Waste Network would raise funds for a judicial review of the decision, Baker said.
From left, Janet Mace, Angela Baker, Ian Ritchie and Rilma Sands were part of a small group of people picketing the Horizons Regional Council office this week about the proposed waste burning plant near Feilding. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
Horizons said it was making a decision about whether public hearings and input were needed.
"Horizons understands there are some concerns about the application and are collecting all the information that we need to make an informed decision, which includes seeking advice from the district health board," said Greg Bevin, the regional council's regulatory manager.
"We expect a decision on the notification in the next week or so."
Horizons will directly advise the people concerned about the plant of its decision.
Baker said the proposed plant had gone under the radar and many Feilding residents did not know about it, despite it being on the town's doorstep on Kawakawa Road, near the Manfeild motorsport complex.
She also urged the district council to hold a public meeting to inform people about the proposal.
Pyrolysis plants had a chequered record overseas and Manawatū residents should not become guinea pigs, Baker said.
Massey University distinguished professor Robert McLachlan holds concerns about Bioplant's claims its plants would not produce greenhouse gases.
He said more information about how the plants would work needed to be in the public domain.
"What happens with this particular consent decision is really of national importance."
The Feilding consent could be "called in" by Environment Minister David Parker, meaning it would go straight to the Environment Court, which would hold public hearings.
"That seems like the most sensible thing at the moment."
Bioplant's Australian office was contacted for comment.