Securing consent for Dunedin’s future waste management needs
At a glance
Dunedin City Council (DCC) needed a long-term waste disposal solution to address the impending closure of the Green Island landfill, whilst retaining waste sovereignty to cater for the city's future growth, resilience and environmental aspirations. Without a new consented Class 1 landfill, uncertainty around future waste management posed a strategic challenge for the region.
Working with DCC, we led the consultant team which was responsible for the landfill design, technical investigations, environmental assessments, stakeholder engagement and consenting strategy for the proposed Smooth Hill Landfill. The project secured resource consents from both Otago Regional Council (ORC) and DCC, providing the approvals which enable the critical infrastructure that supports Dunedin’s future waste management needs to be built.
The challenge
DCC needed a solution to support the city's long-term waste management needs while balancing environmental considerations, cultural values and community expectations. The proposed landfill would play an important role in DCC’s Waste Futures Programme, creating a pathway for other initiatives and providing greater confidence in the city’s future waste management strategy.
Securing consent for a new greenfield Class 1 landfill involved a complex 3.5-year consenting programme that brought together multiple technical disciplines, project partners, legal advisers and stakeholders. Community opposition posed a significant consenting risk, with the potential to delay or prevent project approval, while changing regulatory requirements required an approach that could remain operationally viable over the long term.
Our response
We helped DCC progress the concept design and consenting of the new landfill by providing engineering and environmental services and preliminary design for local road and intersection upgrades. Working alongside DCC, we established a Project Control Group (PCG) with our project partners Boffa Miskell and Morrison Low Advisory, that brought together specialists in landfill engineering, planning, environmental science, geotechnics, hydrogeology, ecology and stakeholder engagement.
Following a one-team approach, the PCG provided clear direction to technical teams, guided design decisions and coordinated inputs across disciplines. This integrated approach supported timely decision-making and project delivery while maintaining ongoing engagement with mana whenua, stakeholders and the wider community. Feedback gathered informed project development and consenting documentation, supporting a transparent and responsive process.
Strong collaboration between technical specialists, planners and engagement leads helped the team balance environmental, cultural and operational considerations while responding to emerging challenges and identifying practical solutions. As a result, the project evolved through a series of design refinements to the landfill footprint that supported both consenting outcomes and long-term project viability.
The impact
The Smooth Hill Landfill is now a consented cornerstone of DCC's Waste Futures Programme, with the potential to serve Dunedin’s waste disposal needs for many decades once operational. The landfill successfully obtained resource consents from both ORC and DCC, with subsequent appeals resolved through mediation, allowing the project to move forward with certainty.
Through the consenting process, the project evolved in response to technical findings, community feedback and changing regulatory requirements, resulting in design refinements that reduced environmental impacts. Ongoing engagement helped build trust, identify issues early and increase transparency and understanding, contributing to positive mana whenua support and successful consent outcomes.
Most importantly, securing approvals for this critical piece of infrastructure has provided greater confidence in Dunedin’s future, supporting DCC’s broader vision for sustainable waste management and helping deliver the option of a resilient, locally managed solution for generations to come.