SIRRL has announced that it has purchased farmland in Glenavy/Waimate for the proposed Project Kea waste incinerator, claiming it as the “perfect location.” But is it?
Hundreds of kilometres from the waste source, population base, and infrastructure to support it, why choose productive farmland within a food-producing region in a flood zone to site a vast rubbish incinerator?
SIRRL’s resource consent states that 71%of the waste they intend to burn will be sourced from Christchurch. This requires 136 heavy truck and trailer movements each day to bring the waste to Glenavy/Waimate, only to return the resulting ash to be landfilled again.
SIRRL said they chose the proposed site because of its proximity to the rail line and state highway, which somehow narrowed it down to Glenavy.
They also stated that they would provide energy to neighbouring industries to offset current coal-fired boiler use. Oceania dairy factory is the only industry near the chosen location. In March 2023, SIRRL was asked if they had any agreement with Oceania; the answer was NO.