Southern Landfill Extension

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Consultation has concluded

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED

Overview

Wellington City Council is applying for resource consents to extend Southern Landfill, known as the Southern Landfill Extension Piggyback Option (SLEPO). SLEPO will be constructed as a separate modern landfill facility, piggybacking on top of the closed Stage 2 area, and adjacent to the currently operating Stage 3. Consents are required for:

  • The discharge of contaminants including waste materials and leachate;
  • The discharge of dust, fugitive landfill gas and odour to air;
  • The discharge of stormwater from construction and operational landfill activities;
  • The disturbance of soil and clearance of vegetation during landfill construction and operation;
  • Dewatering groundwater.

Project description

Wellington City Council is seeking a suite of consents to authorise the construction and operation of SLEPO, including the discharge of waste materials and leachate to water and land, along with the discharge of dust, odour and fugitive landfill gas to air. Other resource consent requirements associated with the construction and operation of SLEPO include the discharge of stormwater, and the disturbance of soil and clearance of vegetation.

The resource consents authorising the landfill gas generator and flare at Southern Landfill are separate to the SLEPO proposal and the effects of this activity are not considered in the SLEPO consent documents.

SLEPO is designed to provide an additional 2.2 million cubic metres of landfill space. Based on current waste management practices and volumes to landfill and delivery of Council’s Zero Waste Programme, this amount of space is expected to provide at least approximately 20 years of waste disposal.

SLEPO will be constructed as a separate modern landfill facility, piggybacking on top of the closed Stage 2 area, and adjacent to the currently operating Stage 3. SLEPO will be designed and operated generally in accordance with the Technical Guidelines for Disposal to Land, Waste Management Institute New Zealand (WasteMINZ) (2022) (Landfill Guidelines), including an engineered landfill lining system, leachate collection and landfill gas management. SLEPO will be a Class 1 landfill, which accepts municipal solid waste, which is set out in the Landfill Guidelines as consisting of mixed household, commercial and industrial waste; and can also accept construction and demolition waste; some industrial wastes (that meet strict acceptance criteria); and contaminated soils. The residual waste accepted at SLEPO will be a mix of these Class 1 landfill waste types.

SLEPO will be developed in two phases, each made of a number of ‘cells’ developed in sequence, as, and if, required. SLEPO has been designed such that WCC could close the landfill at any point within the development timeline, as waste minimisation efforts progress. SLEPO will commence with Phase 1, and Phase 2 to be developed later and if required. Phase 1 of SLEPO is in the eastern part of the project footprint, and Phase 2 is located on the western part of the footprint, currently occupied by the sludge dewatering plant facilities. The sludge dewatering plant is anticipated to be decommissioned by June 2026.

Several landfill design features are important for the capture and control of waste, and the by products produced as the waste breaks down. Modern landfills are constructed in a series of phases to limit the extent of active work area at any one time. The following sections describe these key design and engineering features of SLEPO, which are designed to protect groundwater and surface water from leachate contamination, and protect people from the adverse effects of landfill gas, including:

  • A landfill lining system and leachate collection system;
  • Landfill cover and capping;
  • Landfill gas management; and
  • Surface water and stormwater management.

Along with these key design features, landfills including SLEPO are operated under stringent operational controls and a comprehensive monitoring and reporting regime is also put in place


Resource consents

Permit

Activity

Description

1.

38877

Discharge to Air

Discharge of dust, fugitive landfill gas and odour into air from the landfill extension.

2.

38878

Dewatering

The take and associated diversion and discharge of groundwater that is collected in drains in the side slopes of the landfill extension from groundwater flows in the surrounding environment.

3.

38879

Contaminated Stormwater to Land

Discharge of contaminated stormwater into water (namely Careys Gully Stream) or onto or into land where it may enter water, associated with the construction and operation of the landfill extension.

4.

38880

Earthworks and vegetation clearance and the associated discharge of sediment-laden water to land/ water

Earthworks and vegetation clearance and the associated sediment discharge onto or into land where it may enter water (namely Careys Gully Stream), during construction and operation of the landfill extension.

5.

38946

Discharge of leachate

Any unintended discharge of leachate from the landfill extension onto or into land where it may enter water (namely Careys Gully Stream).

6.

38947

Discharge of sewage/ sludge to land

Discharge of biosolids (sewage/sludge and treated biosolids) from the landfill extension onto or into land where they may enter water (namely Careys Gully Stream), and the associated discharge of odour to air.


Full details of the application and consents required can be found in the application.

Application documents

Resource consent applications, including the Assessment of Environmental Effects report and all supporting information, can be viewed on this page. Alternatively, hard copies can be viewed at the following places during operating hours (on request):

  • Greater Wellington Regional Council, 100 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011.

Submissions

Any person may make a submission on these applications or notices of requirement, but a person who is a trade competitor of the applicant(s) may do so only if that person is directly affected by an effect of the activity to which the applications/notices of requirement relate that—

(a) adversely affects the environment; and

(b) does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

To make an online submission please fill in the online form below.

You may make a submission by sending a written or electronic submission to Greater Wellington at PO Box 11646, Wellington 6011 or notifications@gw.govt.nz. The submission must be in the prescribed form. Copies of this form are available from Greater Wellington, please contact us on 0800 496 734 or notifications@gw.govt.nz.

You must serve a copy of your submission to Wellington City Council (the applicant), via email or post, as soon as reasonably practicable after serving your submission on Greater Wellington. Please send these to PO Box 2199, Wellington 6140, or southernlandfill@wcc.govt.nz.

Alternatively, submissions can be dropped off in person at Greater Wellington Regional Council offices during office hours.

The last day to make submissions on this resource consent application is Thursday 19 October 2023.

As a submitter, you are legally required to provide a copy of your full submission, including your personal details to the applicants. If you fill in the online form below, this will happen automatically - it will be your responsibility if you provide a submission in writing.

For guidance on writing a submission, and the submission process, you can refer to the Ministry for the Environment's guidance document.

If you have any question about the application or submission process, please contact Environmental Technical Support, Greater Wellington on 0800 496 734 or email notifications@gw.govt.nz

Applicant: Wellington City Council

Addresses for service:

Greater Wellington Regional Council (consenting authority): Greater Wellington PO Box 11646, Manners St, Wellington 6142, Attn: Manager, Environmental Regulation, notifications@gw.govt.nz

Wellington City Council (the applicant): Wellington City Council PO Box 2199 Wellington 6140 southernlandfill@wcc.govt.nz


SUBMISSIONS CLOSED

Overview

Wellington City Council is applying for resource consents to extend Southern Landfill, known as the Southern Landfill Extension Piggyback Option (SLEPO). SLEPO will be constructed as a separate modern landfill facility, piggybacking on top of the closed Stage 2 area, and adjacent to the currently operating Stage 3. Consents are required for:

  • The discharge of contaminants including waste materials and leachate;
  • The discharge of dust, fugitive landfill gas and odour to air;
  • The discharge of stormwater from construction and operational landfill activities;
  • The disturbance of soil and clearance of vegetation during landfill construction and operation;
  • Dewatering groundwater.

Project description

Wellington City Council is seeking a suite of consents to authorise the construction and operation of SLEPO, including the discharge of waste materials and leachate to water and land, along with the discharge of dust, odour and fugitive landfill gas to air. Other resource consent requirements associated with the construction and operation of SLEPO include the discharge of stormwater, and the disturbance of soil and clearance of vegetation.

The resource consents authorising the landfill gas generator and flare at Southern Landfill are separate to the SLEPO proposal and the effects of this activity are not considered in the SLEPO consent documents.

SLEPO is designed to provide an additional 2.2 million cubic metres of landfill space. Based on current waste management practices and volumes to landfill and delivery of Council’s Zero Waste Programme, this amount of space is expected to provide at least approximately 20 years of waste disposal.

SLEPO will be constructed as a separate modern landfill facility, piggybacking on top of the closed Stage 2 area, and adjacent to the currently operating Stage 3. SLEPO will be designed and operated generally in accordance with the Technical Guidelines for Disposal to Land, Waste Management Institute New Zealand (WasteMINZ) (2022) (Landfill Guidelines), including an engineered landfill lining system, leachate collection and landfill gas management. SLEPO will be a Class 1 landfill, which accepts municipal solid waste, which is set out in the Landfill Guidelines as consisting of mixed household, commercial and industrial waste; and can also accept construction and demolition waste; some industrial wastes (that meet strict acceptance criteria); and contaminated soils. The residual waste accepted at SLEPO will be a mix of these Class 1 landfill waste types.

SLEPO will be developed in two phases, each made of a number of ‘cells’ developed in sequence, as, and if, required. SLEPO has been designed such that WCC could close the landfill at any point within the development timeline, as waste minimisation efforts progress. SLEPO will commence with Phase 1, and Phase 2 to be developed later and if required. Phase 1 of SLEPO is in the eastern part of the project footprint, and Phase 2 is located on the western part of the footprint, currently occupied by the sludge dewatering plant facilities. The sludge dewatering plant is anticipated to be decommissioned by June 2026.

Several landfill design features are important for the capture and control of waste, and the by products produced as the waste breaks down. Modern landfills are constructed in a series of phases to limit the extent of active work area at any one time. The following sections describe these key design and engineering features of SLEPO, which are designed to protect groundwater and surface water from leachate contamination, and protect people from the adverse effects of landfill gas, including:

  • A landfill lining system and leachate collection system;
  • Landfill cover and capping;
  • Landfill gas management; and
  • Surface water and stormwater management.

Along with these key design features, landfills including SLEPO are operated under stringent operational controls and a comprehensive monitoring and reporting regime is also put in place


Resource consents

Permit

Activity

Description

1.

38877

Discharge to Air

Discharge of dust, fugitive landfill gas and odour into air from the landfill extension.

2.

38878

Dewatering

The take and associated diversion and discharge of groundwater that is collected in drains in the side slopes of the landfill extension from groundwater flows in the surrounding environment.

3.

38879

Contaminated Stormwater to Land

Discharge of contaminated stormwater into water (namely Careys Gully Stream) or onto or into land where it may enter water, associated with the construction and operation of the landfill extension.

4.

38880

Earthworks and vegetation clearance and the associated discharge of sediment-laden water to land/ water

Earthworks and vegetation clearance and the associated sediment discharge onto or into land where it may enter water (namely Careys Gully Stream), during construction and operation of the landfill extension.

5.

38946

Discharge of leachate

Any unintended discharge of leachate from the landfill extension onto or into land where it may enter water (namely Careys Gully Stream).

6.

38947

Discharge of sewage/ sludge to land

Discharge of biosolids (sewage/sludge and treated biosolids) from the landfill extension onto or into land where they may enter water (namely Careys Gully Stream), and the associated discharge of odour to air.


Full details of the application and consents required can be found in the application.

Application documents

Resource consent applications, including the Assessment of Environmental Effects report and all supporting information, can be viewed on this page. Alternatively, hard copies can be viewed at the following places during operating hours (on request):

  • Greater Wellington Regional Council, 100 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011.

Submissions

Any person may make a submission on these applications or notices of requirement, but a person who is a trade competitor of the applicant(s) may do so only if that person is directly affected by an effect of the activity to which the applications/notices of requirement relate that—

(a) adversely affects the environment; and

(b) does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

To make an online submission please fill in the online form below.

You may make a submission by sending a written or electronic submission to Greater Wellington at PO Box 11646, Wellington 6011 or notifications@gw.govt.nz. The submission must be in the prescribed form. Copies of this form are available from Greater Wellington, please contact us on 0800 496 734 or notifications@gw.govt.nz.

You must serve a copy of your submission to Wellington City Council (the applicant), via email or post, as soon as reasonably practicable after serving your submission on Greater Wellington. Please send these to PO Box 2199, Wellington 6140, or southernlandfill@wcc.govt.nz.

Alternatively, submissions can be dropped off in person at Greater Wellington Regional Council offices during office hours.

The last day to make submissions on this resource consent application is Thursday 19 October 2023.

As a submitter, you are legally required to provide a copy of your full submission, including your personal details to the applicants. If you fill in the online form below, this will happen automatically - it will be your responsibility if you provide a submission in writing.

For guidance on writing a submission, and the submission process, you can refer to the Ministry for the Environment's guidance document.

If you have any question about the application or submission process, please contact Environmental Technical Support, Greater Wellington on 0800 496 734 or email notifications@gw.govt.nz

Applicant: Wellington City Council

Addresses for service:

Greater Wellington Regional Council (consenting authority): Greater Wellington PO Box 11646, Manners St, Wellington 6142, Attn: Manager, Environmental Regulation, notifications@gw.govt.nz

Wellington City Council (the applicant): Wellington City Council PO Box 2199 Wellington 6140 southernlandfill@wcc.govt.nz