Fonterra withdraws waste project plan

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Fonterra has shelved plans to quadruple the volume of wastewater discharged from its Hautapu dairy factory into the Waikato River.

But it has not ruled out revising the project and filing new resource consent applications with regional council Environment Waikato (EW).

The dairy giant had applied to EW for consents to discharge 10,000 cubic metres a day of treated effluent into the Waikato River, from what would have been a multimillion-dollar Waste 2 Energy treatment facility.

The application drew opposition from groups including Tainui, and Fish and Game New Zealand, both of which voiced concern about the cumulative effect of the discharges on the river and its wildlife. Those consent applications have now been withdrawn and Fonterra is to investigate other options.

Fonterra maintained that had the facility been approved, the nutrient load going into the river from the site would be less than under its current consent.

Mark Leslie, Fonterra's technical general manager, told the Times the company had withdrawn its application for a number of reasons.

Fonterra was aware of the concerns and feedback of key stakeholders, but he said opposition to the application was not a factor in the company's decision.

A hearing on the applications had initially been scheduled for later this month, but Fonterra wanted more agreement from stakeholders before then.

"From the perspective of ensuring we get the right outcome ... we'd far prefer to be in a position of going through those hearings with a level of agreement, rather than being involved in a large debate."

It would continue to look at disposal options for its wastewater streams.

He said the Waste 2 Energy plant remained an option, the technology was still on the radar and had real attractions.

Eleven submitters opposed the application, including the Conservation Department, Fish and Game New Zealand, Tainui, several neighbours, Hamilton City Council and Auckland's Watercare Services and Regional Public Health Services.

Their concerns included odour, air pollution, traffic noise, water quality and the effect of the proposed operation on groundwater.

"Some of the concerns they had raised were imminently resolvable," Mr Leslie said.

Fish and Game's Auckland-Waikato fisheries manager, Ben Wilson, said the organisation had not had any discussions with Fonterra about the Hautapu project, but "they obviously took into consideration our concerns, which is good".

Fonterra's decision was a positive development and very encouraging, he said.

Waikato-Tainui Te Kauhanganui Incorporated chief executive Hemi Rau said Tainui would continue to work with Fonterra on its wastewater discharges to the Waikato River.

EW senior resource consent officer Barry Campbell said it was not uncommon for a large resource consent application such as Fonterra's to be shelved late in the process, but it was "a bit of surprise".

Watercare's chief engineer Jim Hodges said it had reached agreement with Fonterra and concerns had been addressed.