Controversial West Coast landfill granted extension to fix issues

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

A controversial West Coast private landfill under Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) watch is being given more time to fix water issues following "adverse weather".

The EPA has granted Taylorville Resource Park (TRP) an extension of a few weeks to meet the requirements of a three month abatement notice slapped on the site in March.

It came after the West Coast Regional Council asked the authority in February to take over its environmental compliance investigation of the Coal Creek landfill, 5km east of Greymouth.

The council was plagued with complaints about the landfill site throughout 2023.

These ranged from an overwhelming stench forcing neighbours to stay indoors, alleged asbestos generated dust, and water leaching from the site into a roadside drain.

After the authority took over investigations in February, it found leachate from the landfill had been allowed to spill from the site via an adjoining waterway.

Under the subsequent abatement, TRP were given three months to comply, ending June 14.

Investigations manager Jackie Adams said compliance officers have since visited the site and found TRP have made "significant progress".

However, the work required has not been completed due to "adverse weather conditions" during the abatement period, Adams said.

Because of this, the authority had yet to determine the final outcome of its investigation.

"Our officers will be returning to the site again in the coming weeks," Adams said.

"Once this inspection has been completed, we will determine if all the conditions of the notice have been met before considering any next steps."

LDR has asked the authority what type of weather factor was at play.
"We understand that there were poor weather conditions in April that affected TRP's ability to install the waterproof lining of the new storage pond," Adams said.

The authority recognised the future of the site as "an important issue for people in the region".

It continued to work with TRP to ensure compliance with the abatement, he said.

"Under the Resource Management Act, the EPA has specific enforcement functions to assist and intervene in an enforcement action of a council."

Adams said they will provide a further update when they have completed their follow-up inspection and confirmed any next step.

West Coast Regional Council Regulatory and Policy group manager Jocelyne Allen said they were keeping a watch on the site to ensure an "appropriate level of enforcement" in line with "the level of environmental effects".

Allen was asked to expand in what was meant by an appropriate level of enforcement.

She said the council was "using its discretion" while working through its enforcement strategy.

This was to ensure relevant treatment of the site from a compliance perspective, she said.

Allen said they expected an update from the EPA by mid-July.

The council had several options to consider, under the Resource Management Act, beyond the EPA's findings.

Those could include anything "from a warning right up to prosecution," Allen said.

The council also had the power to issue notices with conditions plus interim and enforcement orders.

Allen said they were constantly evaluating the best options, but the council had not yet taken action to say "it can't operate".

"We wouldn't just be able to shut the site down at this stage."

Allen said more recent consent applications from TRP may yet go to a public hearing, but council had to assess if the impacts were "more than a minor environmental effect" before making a hearing decision.

Allen said that could also be circumvented if the applicant themselves requested a public hearing.

TRP has been approached by LDR. Questions included if it anticipates meeting the extended abatement period, and if it would be happy for a public hearing.