Nick Smith21 February,
2011
Minister for the Environment Nick Smith
today announced that an application to extend
Queenstown Airport is to be considered by
the Environment Court.
“I have decided this application is nationally
significant and the most appropriate authority
to hear and consider it is the Environment
Court,” Dr Smith said.
The application to the
Environment Protection Authority from the
Queenstown Airport Corporation is to alter
the airport to include 19.1 hectares of
land owned by Remarkables Park Limited.
The alteration is sought for the purpose
of servicing the anticipated growth in the
number and size of aircraft using the airport
in the next 30 years.
“Queenstown is a place
of national significance and the airport
is the gateway to an iconic region of New
Zealand that is growing as a tourist destination.
That is why I have accepted that it is a
nationally significant application,” Dr
Smith said.
“I have carefully considered
the options for the application under the
Resource Management Act to refer it to a
Board of Inquiry or directly to the Environment
Court. I consider that with the Environment
Court already considering applications relating
to rezoning and timing of flights allowed
in and out of the airport, the most sensible
way forward is for this application to be
considered in the same forum.
“Directing this application
to the Environment Court will give a fair
opportunity for all parties to express their
view, ensure the matter is considered with
the other issues over Queenstown Airport
while also ensuring decisions are reached
in a timely way.”
For more information
on the proposal go to: http://www.epa.govt.nz/applications/queenstown-airport/index.html
+ More
New initiative produces
road cones from recycled plastic
Nick Smith10 February,
2011
Road cones will soon be made in New Zealand
using waste plastic, thanks to local innovation
and support from the Government, Minister
for the Environment, Nick Smith announced
today.
“We need to back up
the effort of so many New Zealanders that
recycle at home by encouraging businesses
to produce products that reuse the millions
of milk bottles,” Dr Smith said.
Christchurch-based Alto
Packaging has received $42,000 from the
Waste Minimisation Fund to design and develop
the manufacturing technology that uses recycled
plastic resin to make road cones.
“This smart recycling
initiative will mean that 150 tonnes of
waste plastic won’t be going into landfills
each year,” Dr Smith said. “It will also
mean that New Zealand is not importing as
much plastic. That’s good for the country’s
economy and good for the environment.
“The funding from the
Waste Minimisation Fund out of a total project
cost of $304, 746 will also pay for testing
the final product to confirm compliance
with industry guidelines. It is expected
the recycled road cones will be available
from June this year and the initiative has
the support of one of New Zealand’s largest
roading contractors Fulton Hogan who plan
to use the cones.”
The Waste Minimisation
Fund supports projects that promote or achieve
waste minimisation through increasing reuse,
recovery and recycling and decreasing waste
to landfill.
“The recycling efforts
of councils and householders have been compromised
by limited markets for products like used
plastics. This Government wants to support
the development of clean tech businesses
likes this that make road cones from recycled
milk bottles. This Bluegreen initiative
will create new jobs, support household
recycling and reduce the need to import
resin,” Dr Smith said.
+ More
Level of dioxin in New
Zealand’s air decreasing
Nick Smith9 February,
2011
A new report by the Environment Ministry
on dioxin emissions shows New Zealand is
making significant progress in reducing
our exposure to these toxic chemicals, Environment
Minister Nick Smith says.
“Dioxins are among the
most toxic chemicals known and are associated
with cancer, skin diseases, and immunity
and reproductive disorders. This report
shows the amount being emitted to atmosphere
has halved in the last 10 years,” Dr Smith
said.
“This progress on reducing
dioxins in the air is due to successful
regulations controlling burning at landfills,
waste incinerators and toughened vehicle
emission standards. The uncontrolled burning
of plastics was a major source and that
has been largely eliminated.
“This reduction in dioxin
released in the air is backed up by measurements
in people and food. Dioxin levels in breast
milk dropped 40% over the 10 year period
to 2010 to one of the lowest levels internationally.
Studies show that New Zealand’s dioxin levels
in food are between half and one-fifth that
of Europe and North America and well below
World Health Organisation standards.
“This reduction is good
news for the health of New Zealanders, the
environment and our important food exporting
industries. The greatest exposure to humans
is from eating meat, dairy products and
fish. Less dioxin in the atmosphere means
less getting into the food chain and means
our food exports match up to New Zealand’s
clean, green brand.
“The report identifies
real challenges in measuring sources of
dioxin and revises a number of earlier estimates
based on more comprehensive data. The Government
is less concerned about dioxins being properly
disposed of on land as the impact on people
is significantly less compared to dioxins
in the air and water.
“We are committed to
the global effort to reduce exposure to
toxic chemicals and to meeting our reporting
requirements under the Stockholm Convention
on Persistent Organic Pollutants. This report
confirms New Zealand is making positive
progress on better managing the environment
and reducing exposure to toxic chemicals.”
The report is available
at:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/hazardous/dioxin-emissions-inventory-feb11.html
