Independent Consent Hearing Commissioners have announced their decision to approve the Dunedin City Council’s resource consent application to operate a city landfill at Smooth Hill.
DCC Chief Executive Sandy Graham says, “While we were always confident that we had a solid case, we are pleased with the decision. It is a result of long-term planning for important infrastructure and the calibre of the work involved from the DCC team.
“It is acknowledged that community members and stakeholders have contributed a lot of time to making submissions to let us know what they think. In responding to a range of points raised during the public submission and hearing process, we have further refined our plans and conditions, which will mean a great result for the city as a whole.
“While we aim towards a zero waste, circular economy, it is essential to have a consented option that enables the city to take responsibility for dealing with its waste for decades to come.”
The Smooth Hill site, bordered by McLaren Gully and Big Stone Roads, was legally designated as a potential landfill site in 1995. The DCC lodged its resource consent application to operate a landfill with the Otago Regional Council (ORC) in late August 2021.