Independent review available on website

Environment Waikato has posted an independent review of the technical
aspects of an application to build an asphalt manufacturing plant in
Riverlea, Hamilton on its website.

Earlier this year, Blacktop Construction Ltd applied to Environment
Waikato for air discharge resource consents for the proposed plant.

The council received 529 submissions on the proposal. Of these, 521
submissions opposed the plant, five supported it, three were neutral and
280 wished to be heard.

The top three concerns amongst submitters were:

* concern for the proximity of the proposed plant to residents,
schools and shops
* degradation of local air quality
* the effect of increased traffic levels on noise, dust, air
quality and safety.

Other concerns included odour, noise, dust and health effects, impacts
on local ecosystems, impacts on property and amenity values and water
contamination.

Effects relating to noise, traffic and property values fall outside
Environment Waikato's jurisdiction.

In late September, Environment Waikato commissioned an air quality
scientist at Beca Infrastructure Ltd to carry out an independent review
of Blacktop Construction's application to help assess the technical
information in it. This report is now available on the council's
website.

The Beca Infrastructure report concluded:

* Health effects associated with emissions from the proposed plant
would appear to be no more than minor.
* Nuisance effects from dust are likely to be no more than minor,
although a definitive conclusion on dust effects cannot be reached due
to the uncertainty of certain factors.
* The site location is not well suited for dispersing air
discharges.
* It is reasonably likely that there may be adverse effects from
odour emissions.

A hearing committee appointed by Environment Waikato will decide whether
or not to grant Blacktop Construction's application. The hearing is
expected to take place in February.

The independent review will form part of the information Environment
Waikato will use to make a recommendation to the hearing committee.

However the council's recommendations will not be based solely on the
review. Other factors, such as information provided by submitters,
regional plans and policies and the Resource Management Act will also
form an important part of Environment Waikato's conclusions and
recommendations.

The applicant and submitters will be given advanced notification of the
hearing date and will be provided with access to Environment Waikato's
report and recommendations.