Tuakau Proteins Ltd fined $180k

 Tuakau Proteins Limited fined $180k for causing odour.

The odour described as "death mixed with a septic tank" over a period of months and unlawfully discharging waste product into the WAIKATO RIVER.

Tuakau Proteins Ltd pleaded guilty to three charges under the RMA for the incidents between November 2019 to April 2020.

In addition to the fine, Hamilton District Court Judge Melanie Harland also imposed an enforcement order on the company prohibiting it from further discharges of objectionable odour and requiring certain improvements to be carried out on site.

Dozens of complaints from Tuakau residents described odours "death mixed with septic tank", "raw sewage", or "rotten eggs'.

The company was told by WRC "If this company intends to keep operating at this site they need to do so lawfully and without an ongoing detrimental effect on the community or environment".

WRC said a court order is now in place, offering "some degree of protection to this community through the coming summer months".

Living in Tuakau for 30 years, I am classed as a newcomer, we have endured odours from this rendering plant from the day we moved in. As far as the Judge putting an enforcement notice on TPL, we have lost count of these enforcement notices that TPL have been issued. They just do the one finger salute to the authorities and keep producing odours and polluting the Waikato River.Many of our neighbours have moved due to this facility and Envirofert Ltd (TPL's neighbours) that claim to make compost. Envirofert has huge odours and unlawful dumping of waste. Original owners were Gary McGuire (Tuakau local) and Andrew Bayly (MP for Port Waikato) from 1999-2014. Yes, Tuakau he now represents you in government. Another facility that the community has complained to the council over 20 years but to deaf ears from councils.  

As far as telling TPL to operate lawfully after decades of odour, pollution, dust, truck dropping product on roads, we feel that this is just words again and nothing will be achieved. 

That WRC said a court order in place is "offering SOME degree of protection to the community through the summer months", could be seen from the community as not being responsible and not giving the community Healthy Fresh Air that is everyone's HUMAN RIGHT.

The community want protection from odours, pollution etc, over the year not summer months.30 years is too long and these facilities need to close and shift where they do not affect the community.

The judge called the company's offending "reckless" adding that it had a "significant and profound effect" on the community.

These type of facilities should not be NOW around residential housing, parks, schools or eating businesses. 

It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong! 

Tuakau Proteins Limited meeting

 Monday 21 December 2020 @ Tuakau Memorial Hall @ 6pm.

All Tuakau community are welcome to the meeting at Tuakau Memorial Hall (Supper room), 70 George Street, Tuakau. This community meeting, regarding Tuakau Proteins Limited rendering plant on Lapwood Road, Tuakau.

Meeting Agenda:

Feedback on any issues raised at last meeting.

Plant improvements, plans for further improvements.

Plant operation & effects on neighbours;

Odour

Noise

Dust generation

Traffic safety

Community ideas & solutions

Resource consenting progress update.

All welcome, have your say on making TUAKAU a nice healthy area and being able to breath quality fresh air, this is not happening and seems to be with council's approval!

Andrew Bayly MP

Should this Member of Parliament get re-elected in the September 2020 elections he will become the MP for Tuakau.
He has been putting posts on FB and being in the local papers with many photo opportunities and promoting a caring politician, (those two words do not mix).
His BIO fails to mention that he was part owner and part operator of Envirofert Composting and Clean?fill facility in Tuakau from 1999-2014 when he then entered parliament. He was part owner/part operator with Gary McGuire (Tuakau local) 1999-2013.
In those years, 1999-2014, Envirofert had many non-compliances, unlawful dumping of waste, unlawful burying of waste, that was proven by independent and council reports.
The building of the clean?fill bund was not built to the approved plans, boundary bund was built over neighbours boundary and the drain for the runoff from the bund was not built at all. The run off drained into the neighbours drain causing flooding.
Having a discussion with this Member of Parliament about environmental issues could be a very interesting conversation, even though he promotes environmental issues being an interest of his.
Leaving Tuakau with years of air pollution and contaminated waterways would be an interest to  residents. Having a conversation with Bayly at the many 'MEET & GREET' meetings could throw up many questions, Tuakau needs to ask these questions when they can!
Waterways that are contaminated drain into the Waikato River. Contamination for many many years!
Bayly family are still associated with Envirofert, when will he admit the problems that Envirofert had and still have? Paul Bayly, twin brother of Andrew Henry Bayly, is a shareholder and director. Michael Bayly is a shareholder.

Envirofert are in consultation , now, with councils and so-called experts to renew expiring consents, from 2018 to ??????.

You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending!
C.S.Lewis

Source of Stench Revealed!

Finally after 10 years of complaining about odours at Bromley, Christchurch, the source has been revealed. It is Living Earth (LE)composting facility. Owned by Waste Management(Beijing China) and operated by Christchurch City Council.
Residents have known this and regularly complained to the Christ Church City Council.
Nothing was done as usual, only council saying it wasn't the compost.
The only reason that the council has had to admit to the stench from LE is because of COVID 19.
Many businesses had too close but the LE stayed working and the stench remained.
WHAT ACTION IS THE COUNCIL GOING TO DO TO FIX THIS??
I can tell you it will be council will tell LE to do this & that, LE will say they have done it and that will be that.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12333837


When will Waikato Regional Council admit to the putrid stench that hangs over Tuakau from Tuakau Proteins rendering plant and Envirofert composting/clean?fill facility?The council has failed the Tuakau community and they continue to fail the community by allowing new and less stringent consent conditions on these odour producing facilities.Tuakau and the area that these smelly businesses ruin with their odours could be the JEWEL for Tuakau.

Along and on Waikato River could be fantastic, with cycle, walk ways for many kilometres.

But the council and councillors seem hell bent on making Tuakau the smelliest region.

Who wants to walk, cycle, kayak, or boat with the pollution, contamination and putrid toxic air that we are forced to breath?
We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.
Benjamin Franklin

Waikato Regional Council and Tuakau Proteins Ltd update

Council say "Even though it is causing odour problems, the site is 'doing a good job'.

How can you reason with them with that attitude??

Tuakau Proteins Ltd unsafe working conditions!

A contractor delivered offal from a Waikato freezing works to Tuakau Proteins Ltd, Lapwood Road, Tuakau and had concerns for unsafe working conditions.

Due to the quantity that was delivered, Tuakau Proteins Ltd were unable to process it and the offal product was dumped on the floor. Blood and offal running down driveway!

The contractor was concerned about unsafe working conditions and after expressing his concerns the contractor was confronted by bullies and subsequently lost his job.
DO YOU THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE?


Smart people do stupid things. Stupid people don't learn from them!