A controversial composting and worm farming operation in North Taranaki - which has been linked to health problems and environmental damage - has had its application to renew its resource consents declined.
Photo: screenshot
Remediation NZ - which has amassed a 20,000 tonne stockpile of oil and gas waste - has operated at Uruti for about 20 years.
It wanted to renew consents to discharge contaminants to air, water and land.
In their decision released today, the consents Hearing Panel said the proposed activity would have a significant adverse effect on water quality and ecology and the revised suite of conditions offered by the company would not adequately mitigate these affects.
The panel also said the effects of discharges to air were unacceptable.
Yesterday, it was revealed that a review by independent air quality expert had found that there was most likely a relationship between illness in the community and odours emitting from the Uruti site.
The review, which was prepared for the Taranaki District Health Board (DHB), says neighbours could have been exposed to hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons.
A DHB test for poisoning assessment, carried out after three people required ambulance treatment after encountering a strong smell near the plant in April, also concluded the odour was "probably" linked to their symptoms, which included skin irritation and difficulties breathing.
The Hearing Panel also said Remediation NZ had not engaged or consulted appropriately or meaningfully with Ngāti Mutunga, and conditions offered up after the hearing would not mitigate adverse effects on cultural values and the application was inconsistent with Te Mana o Te Wai.
Te Mana o Te Wai underpins the government's package to clean up freshwater and says the intrinsic value of healthy freshwater ecosystems is an end in and of itself.
The Hearing Panel does not deal directly with what to do with the 20,000 tonnes of oil and gas drilling waste now that consents have been declined.
"Although removal or bioremediation of the stockpiled material could be achieved, we remain concerned regarding the lack of detail and the potential long term adverse effects of the stockpiled material," the decision said.
Remediation NZ has 15 working days to lodge an appeal against the decision with the Environment Court .
The company can continue operating under the expired consents while the legal process continues.
Other points from the finding:
- The application is inconsistent with a number of sections of the Resource Management Act
- The application is inconsistent with the relevant policies of the Regional Fresh Water Plan for Taranaki
- The application is inconsistent with a policy in the Regional Air Quality Plan for Taranaki