19 August 2011

Contractor fined for stream reclamation

Roil Contracting Ltd (RCL) and Patrick Roil have been convicted and fined $60,000 for stream reclamation works in the Pauatahanui Inlet.

Mr Roil and RCL earlier pleaded guilty to charges laid by Greater Wellington under the Resource Management Act 1991.

GW laid three charges against each party in December 2010 alleging that approximately 60 metres of the stream had been reclaimed and smothered with cleanfill and non-cleanfill material causing it to be diverted and become laden with sediment.

The stream is an unnamed tributary of the Pauatahanui Stream within the Pautahanui catchment, an area defined in the Regional Freshwater Plan as having a high degree of natural character.

An abatement notice was also issued requiring RCL to remedy the environmental effects of the reclamation which resulted in an application for resource consent. These works are not yet complete.

In delivering her decision, Environment Court Judge Kelly noted the parties’ guilty pleas, cooperation, and lack of previous convictions.

Greater Wellington Environment Regulation Manager Alistair Cross urged landowners and contractors to get in touch with Greater Wellington consents and compliance staff for advice on any proposed works and consent requirements.

“The Pauatahanui catchment where these reclamation works were undertaken is one of high ecological significance and warrants careful management and protection. Though we are pleased site remediation is now in progress, the parties were aware that they needed resource consent before undertaking the works and could have avoided this situation.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media