09/06/2026
Dear Community,
We have received the interim decision from the Judge and Commissioners regarding the Woodstock Quarries Landfill case, which was heard by the Environment Court in November 2025.
As anticipated, the interim decision supports the granting of the consents sought by Woodstock Quarries Ltd. Before a final decision is issued, the consent conditions must be amended in accordance with the directions provided by the Court. These conditions will need to be agreed upon by the parties involved and submitted back to the Court for consideration. The Court will then review the amended conditions before issuing its final decision.
The Oxford-Ohoka Community Board actively participated in the hearing process to ensure that the views and concerns of our community were clearly presented. While the Board did not have the ability to determine whether the application was approved or declined, we recognised the importance of ensuring that the community's voice was heard and considered throughout the process.
After an initial review of the interim decision, it is encouraging to see that the Court has identified several areas requiring further clarification and refinement before a final decision can be issued. These include but are not limited to, the waste acceptance criteria, monitoring requirements, ensuring the quarrying and landfill conditions work effectively together, rehabilitation of the landfill at the end of its life, and the need for an early closure plan should the landfill cease operations sooner than anticipated. While further work is required, these directions will help strengthen the overall framework for the landfill's operation and management, by providing greater clarity around expectations, and reducing the potential for uncertainty around conditions.
We understand that this interim decision will be disappointing for many members of our community who opposed the proposal. Throughout the hearing, our focus was on advocating for the best possible o
