WM New Zealand has begun engagement on seeking referral of the Auckland Regional Landfill (ARL) to the Fast-track Approvals Act pathway.
Auckland Regional Landfill, planned for Wayby Valley near Wellsford, is Auckland’s long-planned replacement for Redvale Landfill in Dairy Flat, which is currently consented to receive waste only until 31 December 2028.
ARL was consented in 2021 following an extensive planning and public consultation process. However, ongoing legal appeals have delayed the project and mean it is now unlikely to be operational until the mid-2030s.
This delay creates a significant gap in Auckland’s long-term residual waste infrastructure.
As a result, WM has had to seek a time-limited extension to Redvale’s consent to ensure Auckland can continue to safely and reliably manage residual waste until ARL is operational.
We recognise that extending Redvale raises concerns for the Dairy Flat community and acknowledge the impact this would have locally. Our position remains straightforward: the sooner ARL can be approved and constructed, the sooner waste disposal at Redvale can end.
Seeking fast-track referral provides an additional pathway while the current Court of Appeal process continues. It does not replace the existing process, but preserves a potentially faster route to approval at a time when further delays remain possible.
The project has already undergone extensive environmental assessment, engagement and consent processes, and continues to have the support of our iwi partners, Ngāti Manuhiri.
WM has begun engaging directly with iwi, councils, regulators and affected communities on the referral application and, depending on the outcome of that engagement, anticipates formally lodging an application with Minister Bishop in early July.
Our focus remains on securing long-term waste infrastructure for Auckland and providing more certainty on the transition from Redvale to ARL.
Yesterday (December 21, 2023) the Environment Court released its interim decision on our resource consent applications for a new landfill and energy park in W...
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A date has now been set for the Environment Court hearing of the Auckland Regional Landfill proposal.
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All appeals against the resource consent decision have now been lodged with the Environment Court.
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