Submitters not given time slots at hearing

Submitters on the extension to the Bonny Glen landfill are having to "put their lives on hold" because they haven't been given a time slot to speak at a resource consent hearing.

A hearing is under way in Marton on the proposed extension of the landfill near Marton.

Rangitikei District councillor Soraya Peke-Mason, who on Monday said the decision to hold the hearing outside Rangitikei was an "insult", has again criticised the process. She said many submitters in her Turakina Ward were still waiting for a time slot.

Submitters are due to start presenting their case today and into next week.

Ms Peke-Mason said people had jobs and had to travel to Feilding. Not knowing a day or time was unhelpful and meant they "had to put their lives on hold".

"I'm absolutely disappointed at the management of this whole process."

She wasn't alone. The lack of clarity around the schedule was questioned by a member in the public gallery at the opening of the hearing on Tuesday who said it was "disappointing there was no public agenda" for the hearing.

"We feel like we're flying a bit blind this week," he said.

An indicative schedule for the first three days was then handed out to those in attendance. That was a schedule for the order in which Midwest Disposals Ltd, the landfill's owners, would present its case.

But it was no help to the submitters who as of yesterday afternoon only knew today's schedule.

"The team is also doing their best to update the indicative timetable on our website as the hearing proceeds," a Horizons spokesperson said.

Submitters who would like a particular day or time can contact Jeanie.Boost-Turner@horizons.govt.nz.

Horizons will keep the timetable as up to date as possible at: www.horizons.govt.nz/managing-environment/resource-management/consents-2/consent-hearings/midwest-disposals-limited-bonny-glen-landfill/