Friday, 30 September 2022 13:55

Meat plant fined $57,000 for environmental offences

Written by  Staff Reporters
This photo, taken on 26 March 2021, shows discharge from Alliance Smithfield meat plant entering the marine environment off the coast of Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon. Photo Credit: Environment Canterbury This photo, taken on 26 March 2021, shows discharge from Alliance Smithfield meat plant entering the marine environment off the coast of Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon. Photo Credit: Environment Canterbury

Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant in Canterbury has been fined $57,000 for unlawfully discharging a contaminant of trade waste and ‘stickwater’ to land and then to sea near Waitarakao/Washdyke Lagoon earlier this week after a prosecution by Environment Canterbury.

‘Stickwater’ refers to partially processed material from rendering.

On 26 March 2021, Environment Canterbury was alerted to the discharge from the Smithfield plant in Timaru.

The investigating team found discharge, later found to be trade waste and ‘stickwater’, running from the plant, down the cliff into the ring drain alongside Waitarakao/Washdyke Lagoon. From the ring drain, the outgoing tide carried the discharge via the outlet pipes into the coastal marine area.

Water samples collected during the incident showed high concentrations of ammonia, E. coli bacteria, organic compounds and nutrients.

Mitigations to stop the discharge were put in place and rūnanga (Council) partners and key stakeholders were informed of the event.

Judge JJM Hassan’s sentencing decision was released on 27 September, following Alliance’s guilty plea for its breach of the Resource Management Act (RMA) for the pollution event.

The sentence took into consideration the restorative justice process Alliance Smithfield participated in, which resulted in a $25,000 payment to Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua and a $25,000 payment to Te Aitarakihi Multicultural Centre, in addition to the sentence for the environment restoration projects.

An enforcement order has also been issued by the Court requiring Alliance Smithfield to complete upgrades to infrastructure at the plant by 31 January 2023 to reduce the risk of further discharges.

In his written reserved decision for sentencing, Judge Hassan said the offending caused serious harm to “an environment of high value and vulnerable sensitivity”.

“The value is in te mana o te wai [the health of our water] and the related cultural importance of Waitarakao Mātaitai to Mana whenua, important freshwater and coastal ecology including vulnerable īnanga and tuna (elvers), the popularity of the coastal walking track, and related cultural, and recreational associations for communities."

Southern zone lead Peter Burt says Environment Canterbury is pleased with the outcome of the prosecution.

"The court has clearly recognised the seriousness of this unauthorised discharge that flowed into a marine area at a site treasured by mana whenua, and important as a habitat for animals, plants and aquatic life.

"The event impacted marine life, mahinga kai [food gathering]… and the intrinsic cultural and recreational value of our water."

Environment Canterbury says it will closely monitor Alliance Smithfield’s resource consents and inspect the site regularly.

More like this

Meat sector unity

Farmers are welcoming potential collaboration between the country's two major meat processors.

Speedy chair

OPINION: Federated Farmers and its members don’t have much love for regulations-obsessed regional councils.

Featured

New ag degrees at Massey

Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.

The show is on!

It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.

Forestry cuts into stock numbers

There is an urgent need for the Government to put a limit on the sale of farms for forestry - particularly for carbon farming.

National

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National…

Machinery & Products

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

New F5 balers from McHale

Irish grassland machinery manufacturer McHale has unveiled the new four-model range of F5 fixed chamber balers.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter