Additional Consents to be sought
Te Rāhui Herenga Waka are pleased that the proposed consenting for the managed landfill and monofill required for the removed material from the project site has been selected for inclusion in central government’s recently passed Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, aimed at streamlining the approval process for projects of regional significance.
The Te Rāhui Herenga Waka project previously used the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) process and received consents for the main Project under that legislation in 2022, so it follows, that if any additional consents are required, the project uses a similar process.
The Fast-track Consenting approach allows the project to be more efficient and transparent in our planning and consent implementation. It is designed to ensure greater certainty around timelines, and allows crucial developments to proceed without unnecessary delays, while also requiring a high level of community engagement and protection of the environment.
Perhaps most importantly to note is that when Te Rāhui Herenga Waka decided to apply under the previous Fast Track legislation, the project made sure to complete a wide engagement process which was similar, or even more extensive than the process for traditional consent pathways.
The project team will continue to maintain strong engagement with our stakeholders and iwi partners. This legislation isn’t about moving projects forward without consideration of our community, rather it is about ensuring better outcomes through efficient planning and preparation.
Context:
When Te Rāhui Herenga Waka was originally consented, it was understood that the surplus wood waste previously disposed of at the site was from the Whakatane Board Mill. However, in mid-2023, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council located files to indicate there was a possibility that waste from the Whakatane Sawmill, or another sawmill, had entered the property. After further testing, a defined area to the north of the property has been identified as having elevated levels of Dioxins. The area accounts for around 7% or up to 10,000m3 of soils that is earmarked to be excavated to create the Boat Harbour.
In addition, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council had identified that there was a possibility that a group of chemicals known as PFAS had also entered the property from neighbouring sources, so additional consents are now required so the project can create at least one offsite managed landfill to accommodate these materials. This is because some of these materials are now no longer able to be processed down and used as mulch and soil conditioners on pasture and horticulture land around the region, as proposed in Te Rāhui Herenga Waka’s first Fast Track consent.
The project has identified a number of properties that may be suitable to be consented and we are working through the commercial negotiations with property owners of those sites, before engaging with neighbours and the community and seeking consent(s).