A controversial North Taranaki business that specializes in composting and worm-farming has failed its most recent environmental monitoring report.
The Uruti website.
Photo: screenshot
Remediation New Zealand was previously in trouble for stockpiling 20,000 tons of oil and gas waste at Uruti. Now, they are in hot water for using treated wooddust.
Remediation NZ was given a poor grade by the regional council for its environmental performance and administrative performance in the period July 2020 to June 2021. This is the lowest possible score it can give.
It was found that untreated sawdust had been spread onto compost rows, leaching chemicals to waterways.
The report stated that evidence had shown that this practice was in existence for at least 15 year.
Marlene Benson, Ngti Mutunga environment officer, claimed it was the worst Remediation NZ review she had ever seen.
“There are some really worrying things in there. Since finding out they treat sawdust and that it is actually all over the site, I have been extremely worried.
“I am concerned about the effects on the streams of our taonga species, but also how can we clean it up.”
The report showed that consents for land and water discharges were violated, which meant that local waterways were polluted and bad smells continued to be a problem.
Benson stated that the report was shocking because the company was preparing to hold a consent renewal hearing during this period.
“So if there was ever a moment during the site’s running, you would have put all your effort into making it as clean as possible over the 12 months.
“Because the report is going to be sent to Environment Court. They will be able to read it and it just doesn’t portray the company in an excellent light.
These consents were withdrawn and not renewed.
Remediation NZ, which was also present at the hearing, admitted that it had stored approximately 20,000 tonnes worth of oil and gas waste instead of treating it.
John McLean, North Taranaki Awa Protection Society Chair, was not surprised by the latest findings.
“But not being shocked doesn’t mean that I’m not basically pissed off.
“They seem to persist in spite of being found to be such bad operators in the original hearing.
“They’ve been able withstand and it seems they’ll be able continue through July and possibly beyond.”
Remediation NZ appeals the consents decision to Environment Court and is permitted to continue to operate in the interim.
Dawn Bendall is a neighbor to the Uruti website.
She stated that the sawdust was a sign of a larger problem and had asked for information about each truck offloading there.
“Can they really believe what they are saying?
“Because at end of the day, it’s taken regular monitoring by Taranaki Regional Council and those who have picked it up.
“This isn’t something Remediation NZ or anyone else has pointed out to TRC. You can’t trust them.”
After being asked for three letters explaining, the company was assigned a poor rating and received four abatement and 11 infringement notices by the regional council.
It was convicted and fined more that $33,000 for bad smells in 2010.
Fred McLay, Taranaki Regional Council director of resource management, said that it could apply for an Enforcement Order from the Environment Court for Remediation NZ.
Factors could include serious adverse environmental effects, ongoing non-compliance or prosecutions – but he didn’t consider that threshold had been reached.
Kerry O’Neil is the managing director of Remediation NZ. He declined to comment on the matter until after the Environment Court appeal had been heard.
