We have had major concerns on the environmental impacts caused, and local residents in the area have suffered significantly from the effects of the operational activity from this composting facility. Complaints have been widely raised regarding the air quality, and foul odors continually coming from the site. Our locals’ have been worried about the long term health effects they will have should the facility continue to operate. Locals who live near the site have suffered from extreme headaches, sore and itchy eyes, as well as severe breathing complications. The continual stench coming from the site has been on-going, causing concern not only for physical health, but mental health and well-being. We are all extremely concerned about the impact and damage operations have had on the environment, particularly our haehanga stream which is a waterway situated directly downstream from the Uruti site, as well as our mimitangiatua river which the haehanga stream runs on to. The consent Remediation NZ proposed, was to apply for consent to operate for another 30 years.
By working with a skilled team of legal executives, our dedicated environmental team, uri of Ngāti Mutunga, and our supportive community, we worked together to present a detailed case which we presented to Commissioners on Wednesday 24th March, and continued in to Thursday 25th March 2021.
Our very own Ngāti Mutunga uri spoke of the importance of what the Mimitangiatua means to themselves, and us, as kaitiakitanga. Powerful submissions were delivered from Jamie Tuuta, Carol Shenton, Rawiri McClutchie, and Anne-Maree McKay, all having grown up in and around this area.
The hearing commissioners’ decision for the Remediation NZ consent renewal was released today on the 26th May 2021, and they have decided to DECLINE the resource consent. This is a huge achievement, and relief for our community and our iwi, and could not have been made possible without the support of all persons involved.
We want to say a huge thank you to our legal team and experts for all your hard work, Marlene Benson and Anne-Maree McKay for all your mahi, commitment and dedication over the last four years, and also to our wonderful community for all of your continual support.
The next step is for Ngāti Mutunga to ensure that the Uruti Valley site is cleaned up before Remediation NZ leave.
A link to the Hearing Commissioner’s Decision can be found here: Commissioners’ Decision Summary
For more information on the hearing results, visit: http://www.trc.govt.nz/environment