July 15, 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

Demolition waste dumping not tolerated, record penalty imposed

Environment Canterbury today welcomed penalties of more than $150,000 in a Christchurch demolition waste dumping case following the February 2011 earthquake.      

Brett Aldridge, Regional Manager Resource Management Act Monitoring and Compliance, says the temptation for those in the demolition and waste industry to save costs and increase profits by inappropriate waste disposal is of great concern in the current Canterbury environment.

“The penalties against Canterbury Greenwaste Processors, Coutts Island Holdings and Kingsley Robert Kepple for dumping and receipt 5000 cubic metres of contaminated waste to form a track at a Coutts Island site are important as a deterrent and to prevent a legacy of post-quake contaminated sites,” Mr Aldridge said.

“The court has sent a very clear message that this type of behaviour won’t be tolerated. District Court Judge Kellar made the important points that appropriate disposal of demolition waste is critical to restoring the city and its surrounds, that the receiving environment for such waste must be lawful and appropriate, and that short cuts can’t be taken to avoid cost and conceal sites.”

Inspection by Environment Canterbury compliance staff in March 2012 revealed a farm track some 1000 metres long by 10 metres wide, and half-a-metre deep comprised of mixed demolition waste. The waste was delivered by Canterbury Greenwaste Processors to the farm property owned by Coutts Island Holdings, which used it to build a farm track.

“The waste had not been screened for contaminants and contained asbestos, electrical and computer parts, plastics, carpet, and assorted unprocessed material from the unsorted demolition of several CBD buildings,” Brett Aldridge said.

The farm property is on land adjacent to the Otūkaikino Stream which runs into the Waimakiriri River, an area within the Christchurch groundwater protection zone and with amenity and significant cultural values.

Clare Williams of Ngāi Tūāhuriri hapū offered the court a cultural impact statement. “The discharge conflicted with the Mahaanui Iwi Management Plan for an area we consider wāhi tapu,” Mrs Williams said. “We appreciated the opportunity to express our kaitiaki role in an unprecedented way and we are happy with the outcome.”

Judge Kellar imposed total fines of $153,625 and court costs of $13,569, a Canterbury record for this type of offending. “We are increasingly being contacted by people in the industry who feel they have a moral duty to tell us what’s going on,” Brett Aldridge said. “This level of penalty will send a strong message to demolition contractors that the risk is not worth it.”

ENDS

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