A regional council has decided to allow public input into a proposed waste-to-energy plant's resource consent application in the Manawatū town of Feilding.
An artist's 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, will publicly notify Bioplant Manawatū's air discharge application to burn rubbish from the town and turn it into fuel.
This allows people to make submissions and, should any wish to be heard, a public hearing would follow.
Feilding Against Incineration spokeswoman Angela Baker said it was important people could have a say.
"We're really pleased it's going to be public. The public, locally, has been looking out for some kind of discussion, some kind of input into this decision.
"This is a really important decision that's going to have big implications for our area and it's vital that it's public."
More information was needed about the proposed pyrolysis process, she said.
Baker was one of about a dozen people picketing the Horizons office a fortnight ago advocating for public notification, and that was confirmed on Monday.
Horizons regulatory manager Greg Bevin said the public notification was in line with Resource Management Act requirements.
"Members of the public will have an opportunity to submit on the proposed discharge via the notified process.
"A decision on the application will be made by a commissioner or a panel of commissioners."
Information about the consent application will be published online on Thursday.
Feilding Against Incineration plans to hold an online public meeting on Thursday next week.