The Dunedin City Council (DCC) has received eight resource consents from the Otago Regional Council (ORC) for the ongoing use, closure and aftercare of the Green Island Landfill.
“This will allow the DCC to continue to use Green Island Landfill until the new Smooth Hill landfill is ready to receive waste around the end of this decade,” says Chris Henderson, DCC Group Manager Waste and Environmental Solutions.
“There was general agreement between DCC and the ORC experts on the need for updated conditions around the long-term environmental monitoring of the landfill. The resource consent hearing took place in March and we are pleased with the independent Commissioner’s final determination.”
The consents include the continued operation, closure and aftercare of the landfill and have a duration of 35 years, with the exception of a permit to take groundwater. That permit has a six-year duration in accordance with the Regional Plan: Water.
The Commissioner determined any potential adverse effects of the landfill’s ongoing use and aftercare once closed were either minor, minimised or otherwise suitably avoided, remedied, mitigated or offset by appropriate conditions of consent. These conditions include comprehensive, long-term monitoring and the adaptive mitigation of any unforeseen adverse effects should they arise.
The consents are:
- RM23.185.01: Discharge Permit to discharge waste, hazardous waste and leachate onto land, in a manner that may result in contaminants entering groundwater.
- RM23.185.02: Water Permit to take and use groundwater and connected surface water from the Kaikorai Stream through a leachate collection trench and to take and use groundwater and leachate from groundwater bores, landfill gas wells and a leachate collection trench.
- RM23.185.03: Water Permit to divert surface water and stormwater from working and non-working areas of the landfill.
- RM23.185.04: Water Permit to permanently divert surface water in the Kaikorai Stream and Brighton Road Stream.
- RM23.185.05: Discharge Permit to discharge surface water and stormwater to the Kaikorai Stream.
- RM23.185.06: Discharge Permit to discharge contaminants (landfill gas, combustion emissions from landfill gas flares and engine, dust, and odour) to air.
- RM23.185.07: Land Use Consent to place a defence against water along the Kaikorai Stream for the purpose of diverting floodwaters.
- RM23.185.08: Land Use Consent to disturb a contaminated site for the purpose of undertaking capping works and installation and maintenance of landfill infrastructure.
These consents are separate from those already granted in February for the redevelopment of Green Island Landfill’s Resource Recovery Park (RRP), due to start in mid-2025.
Further details about the consents can be found on the ORC website under Currently Publicly Notified Applications.