A new organics processing plant has been approved for Christchurch in New Zealand, paving the way for the closure of Bromley’s long-troubled composting facility.
Independent commissioners appointed by Environment Canterbury granted resource consent on Friday for the EcoGas plant, to be located in Hornby’s industrial zone.
The existing open-air site in Bromley has been the source of widespread odour complaints for years, with residents reporting that the smell often forced them to remain indoors.
Unlike the Bromley operation, the new EcoGas facility will use anaerobic digestion technology.
Consent conditions require the plant to be fully enclosed, with a round-the-clock complaints line available to the public.
Strict rules will govern the opening and closing of doors, while staff will be tasked with daily checks for odour.
Emissions from the plant’s combustion units will also be subject to ongoing monitoring.
The new plant is expected to be operational within 18 months of consent being granted - around February 2027 - and the approval will remain valid for 25 years. A 15-day appeal period applies.
Christchurch City Councillor Yani Johanson described the decision as a 'major milestone' for the eastern suburbs.
“I have a lot of sympathy for the local community, for what they’ve had to put up with. It has been completely unacceptable and has ruined the quality of life for close to two decades,” he said. “It is great to see that Environment Canterbury has backed a new type of technology that significantly reduces odours and moves the facility to another part of the city.”
Johanson added that while temporary measures at Bromley, such as shifting compost storage off site, had cut the number of complaints, residents would not be satisfied until the old plant was shut and the new one operating.
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