North Taranaki Awa Protection Society Incorporated

PURPOSE OF NORTH TARANAKI AWA PROTECTION SOCIETY (INC) - (NTAPS):

This is a group founded by locals to advocate for our district’s river systems. In particular we seek for closure of Remediation (NZ) Ltd that operates a large composting operation and hazardous drilling waste storage at the headwaters of the Mimitangiatua River.

USE OF FUNDS:

To meet the significant costs of legal representation and specialist consultants in the on-going opposition to Remediation (NZ).

We have previously linked with Ngati Mutunga and others in this challenge. In a Consent Hearing before 3 Commissioners, where our critical evidence was provided, the Remediation (NZ) application for consent was declined. NTAPS found $14,500 in local donations to win that decision. Remediation (NZ) has now appealed their case to the Environment Court, which now requires us to raise an additional sum of approximately $20,000 to go to Court to ratify the decision we had already won through the Commission.

To further pursue this cause affecting our land, air, water and people we need your help.

In consideration of your assistance, here are some points to consider:

* Remediation (NZ) has a history of over 20 years of serial breaches of their original consent. This suggests they are untrustworthy operators within consent provisions.

* Their current application is for a period of a further 25 years of operation and includes the request to discharge leachate from the site into the Haehanga Stream that flows into Mimitangiatua River, thence to the sea, (via whitebait spawning grounds.)

* Air pollution from the on-site animal offal and drilling waste etc has seriously affected the health and wellbeing of locals to the extent of drawing the concern of the Medical Officer of Health and has been a source of constant on-going complaints to Regional Council. Tests have shown the presence of hydrogen sulphide, ammonia , ethyl mercaptan and hydrocarbons.

* 20,000 tonnes of hazardous drilling waste remain on site with no clear exit strategy for Remediation (NZ) to deal with it. This will eventually require further attention.

* None of the compost or oil waste storage pits on site are lined. There are serious concerns around leachate overflow and contamination of soil substructure. Even when operations are ended the legacy issues of ground contamination on this site remain.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP