Environmentalists to fight Fonterra wastewater dumping

Environmental and health groups are gearing up for a fight over a decision to allow Fonterra to dump wastewater into the Manawatu River for 15 years.

The company's Longburn plant, 8km southwest of Palmerston North, has been given permission by Horizons Regional Council to discharge up to 8500 cubic metres a day of "low-strength effluent" into the river between May and October until 2021.

Eighteen groups, including the Department of Conservation, MidCentral Health, Fish and Game and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, oppose the application and plan to appeal to the Environment Court.

"The river is a public domain, it's common ground and no one has the right to compromise the water quality," Waitarere Environmental Care Association president Kelvin Lane told the Manawatu Standard.

He said his group would meet today to discuss an appeal.

Horizons consents manager Sarah Gardner the hearing was held over a three-day period through all the normal protocols.

She said she was comfortable with the process that was followed.

- NZPA