A marathon hearing into the proposed development of a controversial landfill in Auckland began today.
A placard from a protest in July against the Dome Valley landfill. Photo: RNZ / Jogai Bhatt
The mooted Dome Valley landfill, 5km from Warkworth, has attracted objections from Auckland Council, local iwi and residents who believe it will have negative environmental and cultural impacts.
The site is next to the Kaipara and Hōteo rivers, sparking concerns the waterways which run into Kaipara Harbour would be polluted.
Lawyer for Waste Management Bal Matheson began setting out the company's case today, part of which is that the dump is needed to cater for the region's growing population.
Auckland Council is aspiring to be zero-waste by 2040, but Matheson said sustainable, secure and long-term rubbish dumps would still be needed if that was achieved.
Matheson said Auckland had a bad track record of infrastructure being built in a stunted and unsustainable manner, requiring costly upgrades to cater for growth.
"When you look around Auckland, you are replete with examples such as the Harbour Bridge. It was ever only going to be four lanes, then within a short space of opening it was decided it needed a few more," he said.
State Highway 1 in the Dome Valley. Photo: The Wireless / Luke McPake
Waste Management predicted the dump could be operating by 2026, with the capacity to take waste for 40 years.
Matheson said it was a good thing if the dump never filled up but it was ideal to also have the space for rubbish if it was needed, to future-proof space for Auckland's waste disposal.
"It's hard enough to find a landfill site now that will accommodate solid waste for north Auckland.
"You imagine looking in 30 years, once a unitary plan is built out, plus another plan is built out. All the [land] between here and the North Shore is likely to be developed in some form or another, or under pressure to develop.
"It's just going to get harder and harder."
He said if Aucklanders produced less waste in future, the dump could cater for the growing population for longer.
Independent commissioners will consider both sides and any new evidence at the hearing expected to run until mid-December.
The call on whether the dump will go ahead is not expected until next year.