Land sale for planned wastetoenergy plant approved

NEW Zealand’s first wastetoenergy plant is one step closer after approval was granted for the purchase of land at Glenavy. South Island Resource Recovery Limited (SIRRL) has been granted consent to buy about 14.85ha after the Overseas Investment Office released its decision earlier this week.

‘‘Subject to receiving the necessary resource consents, the applicant intends to construct and operate New Zealand's first largescale wastetoenergy plant on the land,’’ it read.

Consent was granted as the applicant met the investor test and the investment was likely to benefit New Zealand.

‘‘The main benefits to New Zealand include increased jobs, significant capital expenditure, the introduction of new technology and business skills, and energy production.

‘‘The Minister of Finance has decided that the investment is not contrary to New Zealand's national interest.’’

SIRRL director Paul Taylor would not comment on the decision. They were continuing to seek consent through the resource management consent process. Resource consent applications for the proposed $350 million plant were lodged in 2022 with the Waimate District Council and Environment Canterbury (ECan).

In September last year, then minister for the environment David Parker called in the application after being asked to by the district council, ECan and SIRRL. The consent process will be managed by the Environmental Protection Authority, with the Environment Court making the

final decision.

The plant has been met with staunch opposition from some residents.

More than 100 protesters armed with signs and banners marched through Waimate to show their dissatisfaction with the scheme in March 2023.

‘We want to let [ SIRRL] know they’re not welcome here,’’ Why Waste Waimate spokesman Robert Ireland told The Otago

Daily Times at the time. nic.duff@odt.co.nz