Bill for spill clean-up hits $44,000

Christchurch manufacturer Steelbro NZ has been ordered to pay $24,000 more toward the clean-up cost resulting from a diesel spill in the Heathcote River in February 2005.

Environment Canterbury had appealed against a District Court sentence of a $10,000 fine for Steelbro and $20,000 in clean-up expenses.

The company was prosecuted over an incident where fuel thieves caused a diesel spill of an estimated 3000 litres from its Sockburn site.

In his judgment at the Christchurch High Court Justice Graham Pankhurst said it was appropriate that Steelbro should pay the $44,000 reparation sought by Environment Canterbury.

- NZPA