Claims a building material recycling plant on the western outskirts of Leamington is disposing of contaminated or toxic materials is being looked at by Waipā District Council.
The view across Waikato River from the St Peter’s residential subdivision of the former quarry, now a building material recycling plant. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The former quarry is at 3831 Cambridge Rd, between the river and Waipā’s Cambridge wastewater plant and borders a housing cluster on Kaipaki Rd.
It is one of those neighbours who has launched a campaign called Won’t be Quiet Waipā alleging the plant, which has resource consent to demolish building waste, is processing toxic waste.
Waipā District Growth and Regulatory group manager Wayne Allan said the council had become aware of the complaints – particularly around noise and vibration during preparatory work – and was working closely with the consent holder and residents.
An image taken by Won’t be Quiet Waipa of the former quarry site now a recycling plant.
Wasteworx Ltd was granted the consent in July last year without the need for a hearing. Companies Office records show three shareholders from the Piopio-based Fullerton-Smith family – who also run demolition and asbestos removal company Demoworx – and Hamilton builder Zane Beckett.
The land is zoned rural and formerly operated as a quarry with tonnes of sand extracted over several years.
“The approved resource consent includes conditions requiring noise mitigations and a condition prohibiting dust and odour discharges beyond the boundary,” said Allan.
“The activity consented to is only the recycling of building waste. It does not permit the processing or disposal of contaminated or toxic materials.”
Won’t Be Quiet Waipā is run by Andy and Tessa Marsden who live next door to the site. Andy Marsden told The News they were convinced concrete piles containing asbestos had been brought onto the site.
They also claim the crushed concrete and building material produces silica. The particles can cause lung cancer and chronic disease.
They and other neighbours met council staff on site and at council offices in Te Awamutu in an attempt to raise their concerns.
They argue its proximity to the water treatment plant and its various eco system ponds and the river makes it an environmental issue.
The view from the new St Peter’s subdivision on the other side of the river and the Te Awa River Ride is an unseemly one, they say.
“So why would you put a potential toxic waste plant (there)? A senior planner really did not look at the landscape or surrounding area,” the couple say.
This quarry at 3831 Cambridge Road is owned by Shaw’s Property Holdings Ltd and operated by Revital. Its consent expires on December 31, 2035. The quarry can be seen from across the Waikato River on the Te Awa River Ride between the Gaslight Theatre and the Velodrome. This photo was taken from the St Peter’s residential subdivision. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Quarry issues have dogged the Waipā council for several years. The Beacon Hill Contracting quarry on Maungatautari Rd closed down three years ago. Its part owner former Waipā councillor Elwyn Andree-Wiltens resigned because of a conflict of interest. The quarry is yet to reopen having applied for a resource consent in late 2022.
And a hearing to consider whether a quarry wanting to extract up to 400,000 tonnes of sand a year can proceed at 77 Newcombe Rd on the eastern side of Cambridge will reconvene next month having been adjourned so the applicant can provide Waipā and Waikato regional councils with more information.
See: Quarry consent work delayed
