Landfill plan may harm lake: DOC

A Conservation Department spokesman is concerned a small lake could be contaminated if a proposal for a landfill near Otatara is approved.

SJ Timpany Contracting has applied to Environment Southland and the Invercargill City Council to discharge up to 15,000 tonnes of cleanfill and 5000 tonnes of solid waste a year on its Coggins Rd site.

In order for that to happen the company must secure discharge consent and land use consents.

The location has been used as a cleanfill site by the company since 2004.

At the joint council hearing this week, DOC community relations officer Kenneth Murray opposed the consent based on the possible risk to nearby Lake Mirihiku.

The application and the inclusion of solid waste could mean wood and hazardous substances from demolished buildings were disposed at the site, Mr Murray said. They could include lead-based paints and wood with a cocktail of chemicals like pentachlorophenol, which had been used by Crown sawmills to treat timber in the past, he said.

The department had no issue with the site's current status as a cleanfill dumping station, he said.

But the close proximity to Lake Murihiku Wildlife Sanctuary and chance for leaching to occur was too great, Mr Murray said.

Objector Dean Whaanga, of Te Ao Marama and representing the Waihopai Runaka, opposed the application because of the unknown effects non-cleanfill waste could have on iwi values.

Contamination of water could cause a domino effect and compromise the mauri, or life force, that held living things together, he said.

For the applicant, MWH consultant Paul Heveldt said the proposed landfill operation should be considered low risk.

The decomposition of the solid- waste materials would probably be very slow, limiting the release of contaminants, Mr Heveldt said.

He advised wood painted with lead paints to be buried nearer the top of the pile to lessen any potential impact.

MWH environmental planner Simon Beale said a buffer strip and a capped cell of cleanfill existed between the lake and the site.

The hearing panel will reconvene for deliberation next week and the decision will be made in 15 working days.

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