The smell has been regularly noticed in the northern areas of Timaru. Photo: Google Maps
The company believed to be responsible a horrendous odour in Timaru has been identified by the Canterbury Regional Council.
The council launched an investigation to get to the bottom of a stench emitted on 19 January, which saw 63 complaints on its Smelt-it app in a single day.
Residents have described it to RNZ as being a "nasty, meaty" odour that was "similar to offal".
Another separate investigation into complaints from February resulted in two infringement notices for an unnamed company and $1750 in fines.
Council southern compliance team lead Lauren Hamilton said the initial investigation was progressing.
"[The council] has identified the company believed to be responsible for the alleged discharge on 19 January 2024. This matter is being reviewed by Canterbury Regional Council and a further update will be provided once that process has concluded," she said.
"A separate investigation into a series of alleged discharges is also ongoing and being reviewed," Hamilton said.
No further investigations had been launched regarding odours in Timaru, she said.
Since the start of the year, there had been 604 Smelt-it reports within the Timaru North and Washdyke areas, Hamilton said.
More than 220 of those had been made in the past two months.
Odour reports could be made at smelt-it.web.app.