OIO green lights land for plant
The company hoping to build the country’s first large waste-to-energy plant has been given approval to buy land for the plant at Morven in South Canterbury.
South Island Resource Recovery Ltd (SIRRL) applied to the Overseas Investment Office for approval to purchase 14.85 hectares on dairy farm land considered surplus to operations. SIRRL is a joint venture between China Tianying Incorporated, which owns 60%, and a New Zealand company, Renew Energy Ltd, with 40%.
Land Information New Zealand released the decision on Tuesday.
“Subject to receiving the necessary resource consents, the applicant intends to construct and operate New Zealand's first large-scale waste-to-energy plant on the land,” the decision said.
“The facility will convert municipal and construction solid waste into steam, water and electricity.
“The main benefits to New Zealand include increased jobs, significant capital expenditure, the introduction of new technology and business skills and energy production.”
The decision stated the consent was granted as the applicant met the investor test and the investment was likely to result in benefit to New Zealand. “The minister of finance has decided that the investment is not contrary to New Zealand’s national interest.”
The identity of the land vendor was not disclosed, being withheld under the Official Information Act.
The decision was dated March 18.
In April 2022, SIRRL announced it had purchased the land, which sits on the corner of Carrolls and Morven-Glenavy roads, from Murphy Farms Ltd.
In September 2022, SIRRL lodged resource consent applications with Environment Canterbury and the Waimate District Council to build the plant, which was expected to cost $350 million.
The planned development, known as Project Kea, has aroused opposition with the formation of local groups Why Waste Waimate and Waimate Doctors, an informal group of local doctors.
On Monday, Waimate general practitioner Dr Crispin Langston released a statement on behalf of Waimate Doctors flagging health concerns about Project Kea’s consent applications.
This followed SIRRL revealing that it proposed to build a second plant at Kaipara, north of Auckland, which would be the largest waste-to-energy plant in the country.
“Discharges from the waste incinerator [at Morven] will be huge,” Langston’s statement said.
“The CO₂ emissions alone of 1300 tonnes per day will be equivalent to an average of an extra 100,000 cars on the road.
“There will also be toxic gases, some of which will accumulate, just like leaving a tap running.
“The massive gas discharges can travel long distances. Thus, SIRRL’s Project Kea incinerator jeopardises the whole coast south of Waimate because of prevailing winds.”
In August 2023, then Environment Minister David Parker “called in” the resource consent applications by SIRRL at the request of the Waimate District Council, Environment Canterbury and SIRRL.
Project Kea’s applications will be managed by the Environmental Protection Authority, with the final decision on the project to be made by the Environment Court.