Media Release

30 May 2012

Resolution of AFFCO Appeal

An agreement has been reached which will see a resolution to an appeal of a discharge permit lodged by AFFCO New Zealand Limited nearly three years ago.

AFFCO objected to conditions of its resource consent, which was granted by a HBRC hearing panel in July 2009. The consent related to the discharge of wastewater from AFFCO’s meatworks and fellmongery into the Wairoa River.

Mediation talks between HBRC staff, AFFCO, as well as the Department of Conservation and David Renouf have now reached an agreement on a set of conditions, which will settle the appeal without the need for a court hearing.

A draft consent order will now be signed and lodged with the Environment Court to settle the appeal.

HBRC Senior Consent Officer, Charlotte Drury says while the mediation process has taken significant time and effort, AFFCO agreed to mediation and has been willing to work through the issues to resolve the appeal with a new set of amended conditions.

Given the case did not proceed to a court hearing and AFFCO was willing to attend mediation to work through the issues HBRC will not lodge an application for costs with the Environment Court.

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