Rubbish firm joins fight to block prison

By GREGG WYCHERLEY

The company behind a plan to build Australasia's biggest rubbish dump in the Waikato is fighting to stop the Corrections Department building a prison next door.

Waste disposal company Envirowaste gained consent in October 2001 to build an 87ha dump bordering the Waikato River despite a four-year fight by Te Kauwhata residents.

After weathering a storm of appeals against its dump, known as the Hampton Downs landfill, Envirowaste Services has joined hundreds of residents and filed submissions opposing the equally controversial 650-inmate prison planned by the department.

Envirowaste outlined its opposition in submissions to the Waikato District Council and Environment Waikato before a joint hearing beginning on Thursday.

The company cited reasons for its opposition including the need to keep people away from hazardous activities carried out at the dump.

"The landfill will comprise hazardous and dangerous facilities and activities, such as gas wells and utilisation plant, leachate collection facilities, large silt ponds and excavation areas," it said.

"[Envirowaste] is concerned that the anticipated security requirements for these facilities is not adversely affected by the increase in public activity in the area."

Former Corrections Minister Matt Robson, who chose the prison site, said Envirowaste had been closely consulted and he was surprised to hear the company was now opposing the prison.

"They seem rather spurious issues and I think they should think twice, being an activity themselves that had difficulty getting approval.

"They need to make sure that any objections are properly based rather than in relation to some self-interest."

The Envirowaste submissions said the prison was incompatible with the landfill because it would bring many people into the isolated area, hindering safe operation of the landfill.

It also said that construction of the prison would alter run-off for the Waipapa Stream catchment, and the application failed to address the disposal of wastewater and sewage.

The submission also predicted traffic problems "at least equivalent to or greater than those proposed by [Envirowaste]".



Neighbour Wendy Finlayson and other residents, who lost their Environment Court appeal against the dump, have vowed to fight the prison.

Ms Finlayson said the prison would add to the problems caused by the dump, destroying the rural landscape, environment and property values.

While she conceded that Envirowaste had become an ally in the residents' fight against the prison, she questioned the company's motives.

She said the submissions were probably a ploy to force the department to contribute towards the cost of building and maintaining roads around the site.

"I think Envirowaste would be happy to have the prison as long as the Government coughed up this money for the roading."

Ms Finlayson said building a prison next to a dump was folly, guaranteed to cause complaints from inmates.

"The smell would be horrendous. Why should any prisoner be subjected to odour? It's a human rights matter."

The Waikato District Council has received 662 submissions opposing the prison, and about 90 of the submitters, including Envirowaste, have expressed a wish to be heard during the hearing.