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The Woodstock Quarry Landfill Fight Continues

Environment

Rebekah Hunt

Woodstock Quarries Ltd’s (WQL) battle for resource consent came to a slow conclusion at the end of June, when Environment Canterbury presented its decision: application denied.

The decision was immediately appealed by WQL and will now appear before the Environment Court.  

The company had approached Environment Canterbury (ECAN) and the Waimakariri District Council with plans to extend a pre-existing quarry nestled in foothills, 16.5km away from Oxford (North Canterbury). The Landfill would be filled with construction waste such as insulation and asphalt, and hazardous materials such as asbestos. Its total footprint would be 12.4 hectares, and it would hold roughly 3.7 million tons of waste.  The application also outlined 48 vehicle movements a day, 40 of those being heavy trucks.  

The proposal faced many setbacks through the years, being lodged as early as April 2021. The Environment Canterbury Regional Council requested additional information multiple times, before notifying the public in October 2022. According to local, Shirley Farrell, almost 400 residents or parties opposed the proposal, including Forest & Bird, and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga. 

Landfill Sign
Locals celebrated their win before the decision was appealed Rebekah Hunt

Now that WQL is appealing ECANs decision, the Oxford community is rallying once again. The Oxford and Ohoka Community Board will be involved in court proceedings and are working hard on behalf behalf of the people living in the area, who share the same concerns; possible contamination of waterways, wind spreading debris and dust, the loss of ecology (including endangered Mudfish) and an increase in heavy traffic on small rural roads. Shirley also drew attention to the recent establishment of a Dark Sky Park status in the nearby Oxford Forest Conservation Forest.  

Oxford Forest Conservation Park
The Dark Sky Park covers the surrounding forest area Rebekah Hunt

She says it’s paramount that locals sign the most recent petition, to prove Oxford doesn’t want a ‘toxic’ landfill in their foothills.  

“The petition is the community’s chance to demonstrate their opposition to the landfill by showing the court that we are still here, we do want to be heard, and we do still care.” 

More information can be found on the Environment Canterbury page, and the petition is available to sign in multiple Oxford businesses.

Metronews has reached out to WQL for comment.