Cr David Benson-Pope said moving ahead with Smooth Hill was "absolutely the best decision for the city and we are very fortunate that a previous council had the foresight to designate the site last century for the time now reached when Green Island is at capacity".
The Dunedin City Council’s consent for its Green Island landfill expired in 2023 and the council has applied for an extension until Smooth Hill, near Brighton, is ready to accept waste, likely about 2030.
"Being in control of our own waste stream has many advantages, including avoiding the offensive option of transporting our waste away for someone else to deal with," Cr Benson-Pope said.
The city council’s preferred option it is pitching to the public within its 2025-34 draft long-term plan is for the council to press on with developing Smooth Hill alone, rather than working with a private partner to build it.
Involving a private partner was preferred by consultancy Morrison Low, as this would share risks.
Morrison Low advised a call between building alone and pursuing a partnership was finely balanced, a November 2024 report for councillors said.
Exporting waste was "not seen by council staff as a feasible long-term solution", the report said.
However, exporting waste is favoured by the Future Dunedin political ticket led by Mr Simms, who described building Smooth Hill as an unnecessary capital expense that would needlessly force up council debt.
"A cheaper, safer alternative exists which can be taken almost immediately," he said.
Mr Simms described a significant cost advantage from using the AB Lime facility in Winton, Southland.
Future Dunedin called for much more transparency and Mr Simms said a full discussion was needed ahead of nine-year plan hearings.
City councillor Andrew Whiley voted against building the Smooth Hill landfill, but said he accepted the decision process.
Alternative ideas were discussed and good information was provided, he said.
"All the facts, reasons and options were canvassed," Cr Whiley said.
The process was "as transparent as it could be".
"Yes, there are lots of positives for the long-term financial future of the city."
The public was welcome to express views on the subject, and others, during long-term plan hearings, he said.
Council staff said construction of a landfill at Smooth Hill created resilience for the city, provided long-term certainty and was strongly supported by mana whenua.
There was strategic value in having ownership control, staff said in their November report.
Potential for significant capital cost increases was identified as a key risk for the council building the Smooth Hill landfill without involving a private partner.
