At long-term-plan deliberations yesterday, councillors voted 13-2 to fund $92.4 million for the council-built landfill at Smooth Hill, rather than exporting waste or building in partnership with a private company.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said council’s plan to build at Smooth Hill had been in motion since 1993 and, after considering evidence, analysis and a "rigorous" consents process, it was time "to get on with the job".
"This is a difficult decision and this is an expensive decision, but we did not get voted here to make the easy decisions," he said.
"The cost was probably thought to be enormous [in the 1990s] at $7m, it’s more enormous now at $90m and it will only be more enormous in the future.
"Today’s the day to make the decision and be accountable to the people of Dunedin."
Cr Kevin Gilbert said burying waste was the "equivalent of sweeping things under the carpet" and he favoured other management measures like significant waste reduction or an energy-to-waste plant.
However, until they were possible, Dunedin had to be responsible for its own waste, "rather than shipping it off for somebody else to deal with", he said.
"We can’t keep passing the decision down the line."
Cr Andrew Whiley opposed the motion, saying he did not believe it was $92.4m "well-spent".
Cr Lee Vandervis also opposed it and said the council should delay the decision to test alternatives, such as exporting waste to AB Lime in Winton.
"I am not convinced that over time, it will have the savings made quite clear into the paperwork because those savings depend on a whole lot of assumptions looking into the future — the future I see is changing very significantly.
"I think there’s value in dragging the chain in some cases."
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said councillors should be mindful of the lasting impact.
"Yes, on day one it would probably be way cheaper to put our waste on a truck and send it down the road, but we need to look at what is the best for the people of Dunedin in the long-term."
Cr Christine Garey said she wanted to reassure the public the council had followed a thorough process when making its decision and said they could have confidence the council had "considered all of the factors".
Mayoral candidate Andrew Simms said the council’s decision meant "unnecessary capital expense" would be spent to construct and operate the landfill.
"[Consultant Morrison Low’s] Smooth Hill report has been written by someone intent on building a landfill at Smooth Hill, not by someone intent on reducing cost and debt for Dunedin," he said.
"An incoming mayor and council could overturn this decision if enough new councillors capable of detailed analysis are elected to the council table in October."
How they voted
For (13): Mayor Jules Radich, Crs Bill Acklin, Sophie Barker, David Benson-Pope, Christine Garey, Kevin Gilbert, Carmen Houlahan, Marie Laufiso, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Jim O’Malley, Steve Walker, Brent Weatherall.
Against (2): Crs Lee Vandervis, Andrew Whiley.
