Te Mata Mushroom Company fined for odour breach

Hawke's Bay Regional Council manager of resource use, Wayne Wright, says he is looking forward to seeing Te Mata Mushroom Company's new plan. PHOTO/Paul Taylor.

Te Mata Mushroom Company has today been fined $15,000 for failing to fix an odour problem at its Havelock North factory.

The company pleaded guilty to a charge of discharging offensive and objectionable odour when they appeared at Hastings District Court.

They were also issued an enforcement order directing them to submit a draft of a new resource consent application by October 1, and a final application by December 20.

The new resource consent will include conditions addressing odour issues and ways it will be controlled.

It will also include ways the local community and the company will communicate with each other if issues arise.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council said it was looking forward to seeing the detail of plans by Te Mata Mushrooms to solve the odour problem.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council manager of resource use, Wayne Wright, said today's outcome highlighted the seriousness of failing to comply with the conditions of a resource consent and the importance of Council perusing a prosecution for the breach.

"HBRC is not in the business of putting people out of business, but as the regulator, it must carefully balance the economic needs of the region, with the rights of local residents to have an enjoyable environment to live in," Mr Wright said.

He said while the odour issue would not be fixed immediately, the new consent application would be noted and the community would have an opportunity to have their say on the issue as well as input into the process of granting the new resource consent for Te Mata Mushrooms.

"We are looking forward to seeing the detail of plans associated with the control of odour at its Brookvale site in line with the enforcement order issued."