Landfill case
Rotorua Lakes Council has been asked for comment by media in relation to a matter currently before the Environment Court and awaiting sentencing.
The charge for sentencing is one of “Discharging a contaminant (namely stormwater contaminated with leachate) onto or into land in circumstances where it may enter water)”.
The media request for comment followed the release to media of the Summary of Facts related to the charge: see HERE
Council provided the following response to media’s request for comment:
From Chief Executive Geoff Williams:
We can provide some background information (see below) but as this is still an ongoing legal matter, it is not appropriate to provide comment until after sentencing. Council will outline its response to the Statement of Facts at sentencing, which is scheduled for 11 October:
- In 2017 BOPRC brought 6 charges against RLC alleging various breaches of the Resource Management Act for alleged discharges of contaminants at the Rotorua Landfill in March and April 2017.
- The charges followed the heaviest period of rainfall on record in the Whakarewarewa catchment area in the 30 days prior.
- Four charges were subsequently dismissed.
- On 26 May 2021 RLC agreed to plead guilty to 1 of the 2 remaining charges (for breach of section 15(1)(b) of the Resource Management Act which concerned permitting stormwater, contaminated with leachate, to be discharged onto land at Rotorua landfill in circumstances that may have resulted in contaminant entering Tureporepo Stream).
- The other remaining charge against RLC was dismissed.
- Sentencing for the sole remaining charge before the court will take place on 11 October 2021.