AB Lime, which owns and operates a landfill and a limestone quarry at Kings Bend, applied to Environment Southland and the Southland District Council last year for 35-year resource consents to operate its landfill without a limit on how much waste can be dumped there.
In its application it said it wants to expand and become the "premier landfill for the southern regions of the South Island".
At present it is limited to taking 100,000 tonnes of waste a year.
In its application it said on average it currently takes about 60,000 tonnes.
Lifelong Winton resident and former community board chairman John McHugh was concerned about a lack of communication and transparency over the plan.
"I would have thought they would be more upfront with the community."
Through a limited-notification process, 20 property owners within 2km of the landfill were notified, as well as two others for potential cultural effects.
He said it appeared it was trying to be slipped under the radar.
"Surely to goodness the Winton community must have some say, or be able to have some say and be more advised."
While it was not constant, the tip’s smell could waft over to Winton, 4km away, he said.
AB Lime general manager Steve Smith said the application and notification process was largely out of its control and, instead, rested with the regional council.
He said they followed up with a phone call after the submission process.
It was important to note it did not propose to change the footprint, the final area, or capacity of the landfill, he said.
"The changes to be effective through this consent will allow the landfill to be filled at an increased rate."
This included during emergency responses.
They had a proposed environmental management framework to mitigate the effects of removing the cap.
Mr Smith said they accepted waste from out of the Southland region, and had done so for many years.
"It is not anticipated that this will change.”
Mr McHugh’s concerns were echoed by present Oreti Community Board chairman Brian Sommerville.
"We didn’t really get to put in any comment regarding the proposal."
The board wants AB Lime to come along to a meeting and outline its plans.
A Winton resident of four years, he said any increase of waste would add to the odour issue.
He understood waste had to go somewhere, but said when it was on your back door, it was nice to know what was going on.
A submitter and neighbouring property owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said they complained directly to the company about odour nine times in the past three years, and 26 times to ES.
ES integrated catchment management interim general manager Don Rule said under AB Lime’s consent, any complaints to it must be reported to ES within one working day.
Members of the public were encouraged to call ES’s pollution hot line to report incidents when they occurred so officers could assess them.
Since 2003, there had been 61 unconfirmed incidents reported.
There had been 15 confirmed incidents, which were ones an officer attended and determined the odour was objectionable following the odour assessment.
The resident said if the weather was still, with low cloud, the smell hung around.
"It’s autumn weather — we’re coming into our stinky season now."
They said the company could not handle the amount it processed now.
A hearing will be held in mid-May.
