Contribution to treatment plant

Press, 28 January 1982, Page 14

Contribution to treatment plant

Sir, — As the biggest polluter of the Waimakariri River, the only option open to the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company (“The Press,” January 20) is to face up to its responsibilities and contribute substantially to the proposed waste treatment plant. For over 12 years it has been discharging large quantities of partially treated waste into the Waimakariri River; consequently, the South Branch is a disgusting mess: greasy, foul and stinking. Now C.F.M. wants to increase its effluent discharge. In the public interest and future longterm development of the lower Waimakariri River, this Government’s maxim of “user pays” should be enforced. However, I see the spectre of the National Development Act ready to reclassify the river in the interest of “export potential.” Sadly, this nation’s progress is measured in economic terms rather than social and environmental advancements. — Yours, etc., SANDRA M. LEGGE. January 20, 1982.

.[Mr J. J.. Drayton, general manager of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, Ltd, replies: “The Canterbury Frozen Meat Company. Ltd. is

very conscious of its responsibilities in respect of the Waimakariri River. During the last four years we have spent considerable sums of money in upgrading our primary treatment, facilities at the works in an effort to improve the quality, of waste discharges. Cur-rentjy-we have major effluent treatment proposals in front of the appropriate authorities for their consideration. The proposals. provide for a cleaner discharge to the river and are based on ‘user-paying’ principles.”]