Media Release 23 March 2004

Christchurch mayor welcomes Kate Valley Landfill decision

The Environment Court’s confirmation today of the value of Canterbury’s regional landfill proposal means the region now has real certainty about its ability to responsibly manage and reduce waste in the future, says Christchurch mayor Garry Moore.

Christchurch City Council is the largest of six Canterbury councils which, along with two private firms, collectively sought the rights to build and operate a landfill at the Kate Valley site. The joint venture is Transwaste Ltd.

“This is excellent news for the city and region,” Mr Moore says. “I’ve only had an early briefing about the decision, but it appears the court is supportive of the proposal and is satisfied that it will bring environmental benefits to the region. It’s been a long and thorough process and the whole exercise is a credit to all those people who took part.

“Across the region it’ll mean a big reduction in the number of landfills being operated. For the city it means certainty about our landfill at Burwood; we can now get on and refine our plans to close it. Everything going well, that’s the end of May next year at the latest.”

Serious long-term waste reduction is a primary goal of the joint venture and Mr Moore says the Kate Valley project would be an example of how local bodies could cooperate and successfully combine with private business on large infrastructure projects.

The decision also meant the participating councils could further their waste reduction plans.

“We’ve had great success so far in recycling and reusing material that would otherwise end up in the landfill and even more effort and facilities are planned which tie into the landfill project,” Mr Moore says. “Even so, it’s likely that Canterbury will need the Kate Valley landfill for some time into the future.”

ENDS

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