The discharge resulted in the deaths of a large number of fish, eels and other aquatic species and a significant deterioration in stream health, and left solid waste material on the stream bed and banks. It was also very offensive to tangata whenua values.
It occurred when the wastewater network in Bell Block was receiving industrial waste from a chicken-processing plant – a procedure that takes place at night to avoid coinciding with peak daytime domestic loads.
This industrial waste is particularly high in ammonia and organic material that reduces oxygen levels in freshwater.
The New Plymouth District Council and City Care had pleaded guilty.
"Automatic alarms alerted City Care to the fault and a technician checked the site that night," says TRC's director-resource management, Fred McLay.
"But the technician did not understand the nature and significance of what was occurring and, with assistance and back-up unavailable, they left the site. So the discharge continued until the next morning.There are also wider issues around the adequacy of the infrastructure itself. An incident like this appears to have been simply a matter of time."
"The Taranaki Regional Council has a duty to prosecute serious environmental breaches, no matter who is responsible. There must be accountability and deterrence. The size of the fine should encourage the community and its civic leaders to focus on environmental investment priorities. It should also remind operators that they must ensure their contingency plans and procedures are robust."
