Waikato: Consents granted for rendering and processing plant

Consents granted for rendering and blood processing plant

Air discharge and land use consents have been granted for a meat rendering and blood processing plant at Greenlea Premier Meats Ltd’s existing abattoir property in Morrinsville.

The applications were granted by the Waikato Regional Council and Matamata-Piako District Council following a combined two-day hearing in Morrinsville last November.

During the hearing, Greenlea said it was committed to building a plant with a number of layers of protection – greater than any other plant of its kind in New Zealand.

The hearings panel concluded the effects of the proposal are “likely to be no more than minor, and can be avoided, remedied or mitigated by conditions of consent”.

However, it was acknowledged that abnormal discharges of odour – while potentially not happening often – would have high impact and couldn’t be prevented despite “an extremely high level of good management and design”.

The panel agreed to grant the consents because of the applicant’s agreement to an “extreme condition” that requires the plant to stop processing and, if necessary remove all material off site, if a validated odour complaint is received.

The applications were heard by independent hearings commissioners Kevin Mahon and Murray Kivell.

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