The Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) is urging Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to act quickly on an urgent request from Wastebusters for a letter of intent - a move it says is critical to securing $10M or more in funding.

Without the letter - which would confirm the council’s willingness to lease more land to Wastebusters - the long-running local environmental non-profit organisation cannot progress an application with the Ministry for the Environment’s (MfE) which would help fund an urgently needed expansion of its resource recovery services.

Millions more in funding from charitable organisations is dependent on Wastebusters securing the MfE funding - but all of this is in jeopardy if QLDC does not supply a letter of intent by October.

Wastebusters, which has long outgrown its current footprint, warns that missing this opportunity could threaten its long-term viability and force thousands more tonnes of reusable materials into landfill.

Speaking at a workshop yesterday, (Thursday August 7), WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said it would be “environmental vandalism” if QLDC failed to act.

“If this doesn’t go through, how can the council stand up and say: ‘We are true to waste minimisation, to a climate and biodiversity plan, [and] true to the Wānaka community’.”

QLDC staff told board members that risks associated with a letter of intent included perceptions of preferential treatment, the opportunity cost of using its land for other infrastructure, and unanticipated costs to council.

“Council should be falling over themselves to [write and sign] that letter of intent,” board member John Wellington said.

QLDC’s 8.3ha site next to Wastebusters - purchased two years ago specifically for future waste services - made the decision a “no-brainer”, he said.

Wastebusters has a 25-year-long track record of success and it is “the one thing in Wānaka every person agrees they like”, board member Chris Hadfield said.

That popularity was reflected in public submissions on QLDC’s draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan earlier this year - more than half mentioned Wastebusters, and many specifically urged the council to provide it with more land.

Board members expressed unanimous support for the letter of intent, and deputy mayor Quentin Smith said he would phone QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen to highlight his support while Simon said he would write a letter to the chief executive and mayor Glyn Lewers.

“We have to look way beyond Wastebusters being just another tenant - they are a partner and absolutely integral to waste minimisation outcomes,” Quentin said.

The letter of intent must be approved at the next full council meeting to meet the MfE’ deadline.

PHOTO: Supplied