The Taylorville Resource Park is a few kilometres east of Greymouth. Photo: LDR
A privately-owned Greymouth landfill that has been prosecuted for breaching its resource consents and health and safety rules wants to expand its operation.
Taylorville Resource Park Ltd is inviting public comment on its plans, on its website and in newspaper advertisements.
The company is applying to the West Coast Regional Council for a Class 2 landfill consent that would allow it to dump more contaminated material at its site overlooking the Grey River.
The company said its current consents have 17 years to run, but their complexity make them unfit for purpose.
It can lawfully dispose of clean fill, demolition and construction waste, asbestos, coal-tar and tyres.
But it needs case-by-case approval from the Regional Council for other sorts of material.
"This last part is quite unusual and cumbersome for everyone involved," the company said in its website explanation.
The Class 2 landfill consent would clearly specify everything that could be taken.
The company said its current consents are not fit for purpose. Photo: LDR
The company also wants approval for more 'cells' at the Taylorville site and eventually, a new composting operation and blending area for green waste.
It said it expects its application will be publicly notified so the public will have a formal say in the resource consent process.
The Taylorville dump has been controversial since it was granted consent by the West Coast Regional Council in 2021 without public notification.
Neighbours protested at the lack of consultation and complained of bad smells and dust.
The Grey District Council said it should have been consulted as an affected party because the landfill sits above the river, not far from the bore intake for Greymouth's public water supply.
Grey mayor Tania Gibson called for it to be closed after contaminants were found leaching onto nearby land.
And in August 2023, two workers told to dig a hole in one of the rubbish cells were overcome by toxic gases and seriously injured.
The Environmental Protection Authority was called in as an independent arbitrator and eventually cleared the landfill last September after remedial work was carried out to stop leachate escaping.
But a Regional Council prosecution of the company over the leaching is still making its way through the courts.
Taylorville Resource Park LTD, along with subcontractor Paul Smith Earthmoving, are also facing potentially hefty fines after pleading guilty in the Greymouth District Court to charges of exposing the two workers to risk of death or injury.
The companies will be sentenced in July.
Within the next fortnight, Taylorville Resource Park plans to lodge new resource consent applications supported by expert environmental and technical reports.
It anticipates that this time the applications will be publicly notified, and the community will have a formal say in the resource consent process.
Feedback via its website is welcome at any time, the company said.
"In particular, feedback received prior to lodgement - before the end of March - will be considered when finalising the details of the application."
On its website, the company said the Taylorville landfill has a low seismic risk and could be an important strategic asset in the event of a significant earthquake or other disaster.
"Especially if the West Coast became isolated for a period as a result. TRP could help enable recovery and clean up while preserving municipal waste options at the West Coast Regional Council's McLean's Pit landfill."
Adrian van Dorp, who owns a neighbouring property, said he will be submitting against the new consents.
"I appreciate the chance to have a say but based on their record to date, I will not be supporting it," he told LDR.
Grey District mayor Tania Gibson said the council will also be making its concerns known.
"It's good to have the opportunity, but they have yet to show they're a responsible operator and I'll be urging Greymouth people to have their say as well."
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
