This is the submission that I made on Energy for Industry’s (EFI) recent consent application (CRC121424) to increase their steam production (and subsequent contaminants to air) at their Washdyke facility from 20 MW to 40 MW of steam output:

I chose to oppose the consent application.

Reasons for opposing the consent application:

Energy for Industry's (EFI) resource consent application, like all discharge to air applications, is very technical in nature. Because EFI carried out no public consultation in terms of this (and their prior) application, there has been very little time to study all of the applicable documents and carry out further research. As a result, I have only looked at a few of the numerous issues associated with the application.

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This is the submission that I made on the Timaru District Council's 2011 Draft Annual Plan:

Submission on Timaru District Council Draft Annual Plan (DAP) 2011-2012

I would like to thank that Timaru District Council for giving me an opportunity to make a submission on the Draft Annual Plan (DAP). I feel that that Council has not yet given adequate thought to some key areas of the DAP and I urge Members of the Council to give the items below more than just a fleeting glance.

It is unfortunate that Councillors on the Timaru District have a very strong feeling around what rates the community can afford while they seemingly have little understanding of the effects of increasing Council debt will have on the future of the District.

Council Debt must be Controlled

The Council has widely publicised that General Rate rise has been pegged back from the forecast rise of well over 8% to a value of 5.8% in the DAP. Planned and deferred expenditure has also been covered well, but what hasn’t received any scrutiny is the proposed change to debt levels.

I would like to pay particular attention to the Council's planned Debt/Asset ratio, as this is a both a reasonable tool to indicate Council's solvency position over time and as a measure of the Council’s performance against other District Councils in New Zealand. More...

This is the submission that I made on the Ministry for the Environment's proposed changes to the standards for Air Quality:

Submission on the proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality

Name of Submitter: Andrew McMillan

1.0 Introduction

Firstly, I would like to thank the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) for giving me an opportunity to make a submission on the proposed amendments to the air quality standards. With the deadline for full compliance looming and the report cards showing a very mixed bag of results, a review is indeed timely.

The health risks associated with PM10 exposure are well documented and internationally accepted. I happen to live in Timaru, which is in an airshed that consistently appears amongst the worst offenders in the country for PM10 pollution levels. From my point of view, what I’m looking for in terms of policy direction is to have measures put in place that will ensure the worst offenders can finally start to make some progress towards achieving a safe and healthy quality of air. More...

This is the submission that I put forward on KiwiRail's proposal to extend the existing Rail Yards over Denmark Street: More...

This is my Submission on the Timaru District Draft Long Term Council Community Plan  2009-19: More...