Environment Waikato seeks information from Blacktop Construction Ltd

Environment Waikato has confirmed it is seeking information from
Blacktop Construction Ltd about whether the company is intending to
apply for a land use consent from Hamilton City Council for its proposed
asphalt manufacturing plant in Riverlea.

Blacktop Construction Ltd applied to Environment Waikato for an air
discharge resource consent for the proposed plant last year.

An Environment Waikato hearing committee is scheduled to decide whether
or not to grant the application this month.

However, the company was given notice from Hamilton City Council this
week that it needs a land use consent to operate at Riverlea.

Environment Waikato has asked Blacktop Construction Ltd to confirm
whether or not it intends to apply for a land use consent from Hamilton
City Council by the end of this week.

If a land use consent application is made, the regional council will
need to decide whether to defer the hearing for the air discharge
consent so a joint hearing with Hamilton City Council can be arranged.

"We have not yet heard from Blacktop Construction Ltd, but we have given
them until the end of this week to respond," processing industry
programme manager David Stagg said.

"In the interests of following a fair process we have given them time to
do this, and we will not be making a decision on whether or not to defer
the hearing until early next week."