28 February 2008

Egg Company Payout To Fund Stream Rehabilitation

A $12,500 payment towards stream rehabilitation, $10,000 towards legal costs and a court order to remediate the polluted section of the Oteranga Stream are the positives from Greater Wellington's successful prosecution of Capital Egg Company Ltd and Associates for the illegal dumping of chicken farm waste on Terawhiti Station in south Makara.

Capital Egg was convicted on two charges the discharge of chicken effluent to land entering water and discharge without consent. The discharges occurred between July 2005 and January 2007 and resulted in contamination of a tributary of the Oteranga Stream. Approximately 180 tonnes of chicken waste was dumped.

The Environment Court also ordered Terawhiti Station farm manager Alan Hobbs, his employer Terawhiti Farming Co Limited and Te Kamaru Station Limited, which accepted the discharges on its land, to remediate the area where the dumping occurred. This includes containing and treating the effect of the discharge, improving the habitat that was degraded and monitoring the effectiveness of the remediation.

Greater Wellington Pollution Control team leader Nic Conland said Greater Wellington was keen to send a clear message that it had little tolerance for significant breaches and would take any necessary action to protect the environment.

"The success of the recent actions before the Environment Court in our view shows that the Court will hold a firm line where significant breaches occur," Mr Conland said.

He said that the funds and remediation order were positive outcomes to the case, but the fact the dumping had been occurring and its effect on water quality and stream life were very disappointing.

"All streams have values and degrading streams in a manner such as this takes away the benefits for future generations. We wouldn't expect this to be occurring anywhere else in the region."

Mr Conland said Greater Wellington planned to use the funds for stream rehabilitation in the wider Makara catchment area and would look to work with a local community care group to carry out restoration activities.

ENDS

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