Hundreds of people have signed a petition opposing plans to create a Southland super dump. 

AB Lime Ltd, which owns the waste landfill at Kings Bend near Winton, has applied for a new 35-year resource consent. 

The consent removes the existing 100,000 tonnes per annum cap, enabling the company to more quickly fill the remaining capacity of 23.9 million cubic metres.

Since it opened 17 years ago, only 1 million cubic metres have been filled. 

AB Lime wants to make it "the premier landfill" for the lower South, but there is a growing unease and opposition from some residents.

Katie Allan, who lives in nearby Dipton, has organised a petition, saying many people were in the dark about the application. 

It has been signed by 88 people online within a fortnight of launching, Allan has collected about 200 signatures on her paper copies, and she estimates other petitioners have similar numbers - perhaps up to 500 in total so far. 

"Lots of people don't know and they are disgusted when they hear about it," Allan says.

"I had one woman reach out to me who is building a house in Winton and she said 'we didn't know, we didn't know'." 

The 'THAT REALLY STINKS AB LIME!!!' petition lists a litany of concerns about the plans, including the potential of air pollution and negative health consequences, groundwater contamination, unbearable odour, negative environmental impacts and the impact of increased truck movements.

It also raises issue with the Winton landfill taking waste from other areas of the South Island, and becoming known as 'Stinkton'.

They echo the concerns of the handful of landowners who were notified of the application, made submissions and attended a pre-hearing meeting with AB Lime earlier this month. 

Landfill manager Steve Smith gave his response to those concerns, and the need for the consent in general, in The Southland App's story on the meeting (see below). 

Smith adds: "The petition seems to be a combination of concerns about the application process (which is largely out of our control and in the safe hands of Environment Southland), and a message to ABLime to ensure that any effects from the landfill are appropriately managed.

"We have put a lot of attention to our application to ensure that this is the case. 

"I would like to respect the RMA process, and the concerns raised in the submissions, and let the remainder of the process run its course." 

The submitters and petitioners also criticise the way the application has been processed by Environment Southland. 

Allan says only in January 2021 were the landowners living within 2km of the landfill notified, despite the fact it was lodged seven months earlier. 

The deciding hearing will be held in mid-May.  

"The community of Winton and the wider public however have been completely left in the dark about this application," she says.

"Only a specific search on the Environment Southland website for ‘AB Lime’ results in a copy of 43 page reply letter in regards to an application that has been made, but for any person not experienced in RMA processes and landfill operations and without science background hard to understand what the application is actually about."

But Environment Southland acting consents manager Bruce Halligan says: "With any application, we have to make a decision on how to process it based on the legislation, the application itself and our plan rules, which recognise infrastructure requirements and includes provisions for landfills, while requiring resource consent for landfills. 

"Following the formal hearing, an independent resource management commissioner will make a decision on this application rather than council staff or councillors.

"The hearing, which at this stage is likely to be held approximately mid–May (dates and venue TBC), will take into account the application, submissions, associated evidence and Environment Southland’s report.

"When making a decision on whether to grant or decline the application, the focus is always on the issues raised and environmental effects, rather than the numbers of submissions we may receive on an application."

Twenty-three parties were notified, including the landfill's neighbours.

Te Rūnanga o Awarua and Waihōpai Rūnaka, and Hokonui Rūnanga were consulted due to potential cultural effects. Te Rūnanga o Awarua and Waihōpai Rūnaka opposed the application, while Hokonui Rūnanga did not take a position. 

They asked for a shorter consent duration of around 17 years, in line with the Iwi Management Plan, Te Tangi a Tauira, 2008, and to be notified when waste is accepted under crisis or emergency response conditions 

The Environment Southland report on the application will be provided to the applicant and submitters at least 15 working days prior to the hearing. 

Halligan says no decision to grant or decline the application has been made at this stage. 

An application has also been lodged with the Southland District Council for matters such as noise management and roading, as Environment Southland does not have responsibility for these matters.