27 October 2011

Palmerston North City Council appeals abatement notice

The Palmerston North City Council has lodged an appeal against the abatement notice requiring it to “cease the discharge from its Wastewater Treatment Plant that is having a significant effect on aquatic life in the river”.

Chief Executive Paddy Clifford said the terms of the abatement notice have given the Council no choice but to appeal.

“The notice requires us to cease aspects of our discharge by 30 November, but there is no indication of what aspects need to cease. We have initiated a joint work programme with Horizons to determine what’s actually happening in the river, but the testing and analysis will not be completed in time to meet the requirements of the abatement notice.”

“We’re not able to stop discharging in to the river, we don’t have the ability to store the treated wastewater until a solution is found, so we’ve been left with no option but to appeal the Abatement notice and apply for a stay – which will put the abatement notice on hold until the appeal can be heard.”

Being unable to meet the requirements of the abatement notice could result in Horizons Regional Council issuing fines for non-compliance.

Appealing the abatement notice has not affected the Council’s commitment to finding out what’s happening in the river. The Council was already working with Horizons Regional Council to determine what further investigations might be needed when the notice was issued. Since receiving the notice, the Council has made formal proposals to Horizons for the joint work programme for further testing and officers from both Councils are in open dialogue and continue to work closely on developing a way forward.

“From the beginning we have been committed to a process of working with Horizons, and ensuring we are complying with all aspects of our Wastewater Treatment consent” said Mr Clifford.

Both the appeal and application for a stay of the abatement notice were lodged with the Environment Court today.

ENDS

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