Sand mine fined $60k for spill

A Waikato ironsand mining company has been fined more than $60,000 for spilling thousands of litres of diesel into the Wainui Stream.

Taharoa Ironsands, which operates near Ka¯ whia on Waikato’s west coast, was convicted and fined after pleading guilty to unlawfully discharging 4000 litres of diesel.

The incident happened at the company’s ironsand mining operation at Taharoa on August 18 last year.

Through a series of events, diesel was discharged onto land which then passed through the company’s stormwater system, via a hydrocarbon trap, and into the Wainui Stream. The Waikato Regional Council was first alerted to the spill after four members of the public reported a diesel smell near Taharoa.

One complainant tracked the rainbowcoloured diesel slick along the beach and the Wainui Stream for about 400 metres.

The Wainui Stream is classified as a significant indigenous fish habitat and is a seasonal migratory route for freshwater species such as eels, grey mullet, smelt and inanga.

The spill occurred four days into the whitebaiting season. Council investigators found the diesel spill occurred in a highvoltage area inside the mine which was secured with padlocks. Judge Melanie Harland convicted Taharoa Ironsands in the Te Kuiti District Court on December 4 and imposed a $60,750 fine.

The judge said the company’s carelessness had caused the offending.

‘‘Overall, I have reached the view that this spill was preventable, and that more effective management practices and oversight would have prevented its occurrence,’’ she said.

Taharoa Ironsands managing director Wayne Coffey said the company ‘‘hugely regrets’’ any incident relating to contamination. The company has taken measures to ensure such an incident doesn’t happen again.

Waikato Regional Council investigations and incident response manager Patrick Lynch said the spill was ‘‘completely avoidable’’.