FAQs

Taylorville Resource Park is a specialised waste facility that services both local and South Island demolition and construction waste requirements.

Taylorville’s initial reason for being was the requirement to safely dispose of demolition materials from the Grey Hospital.

Facilities like Taylorville are designed to provide a responsible and legal outlet for the disposal of demolition materials (with illegal dumping a known issue on the West Coast).

Taylorville’s existence continues to provide not only a vital service but also supports the local economy utilising local suppliers and service providers.

Additionally, the facility could become an important strategic asset in the event of a civil defence emergency - such as a significant earthquake - especially if the West Coast became isolated for a period as a result.  As a modern demolition disposal facility with a low risk seismic profile, TRP could potentially help enable recovery and clean up while preserving municipal waste options at the West Coast Regional Council’s McLean’s Pit Landfill.

TRP is located 3.5km east of Greymouth at 287 Taylorville Rd, Coal Creek.

The rural 12.5-hectare site is flat to gently undulating and importantly situated back from the Grey River, as well as downstream of the Grey District Council’s water supply intakes.

TRP has been heavily invested in to safely manage the following types of waste:

• Clean fill (uncontaminated soil and rock)
• Demolition and construction waste - including asbestos containing materials like cladding and types of tiles. These materials are generally inert (won’t degrade or react with groundwater), so once buried are considered low risk. Any asbestos waste is also managed in TRPs purpose built fully lined cells to provide separation from the environment.
• Coal tar (from old roading) – also placed in lined cells.
• Tyres

Our consent also has provision for other contaminated materials to be taken subject to approval by the West Coast Regional Council on a case-by-case basis.

TRP works to industry standards developed by nationally recognised experts in the waste sector.

Here’s an overview of what that looks like at TRP:

• Before waste comes to site – details of what is being dumped provided to TRP for approval. This will include the type of material, it’s origin and where applicable lab testing results.
• On arrival at site – incoming loads are inspected by TRP staff to ensure they align with what was approved for dumping.
• Materials placed in waste cells - any potentially contaminated materials, such as asbestos or coal tar, are put in the facility’s purpose-built lined cells to provide separation from the environment.
  • Any loads that may contain asbestos are managed in accordance with the Class B scenario controls in the New Zealand Guidelines for Assessing and Managing Asbestos in Soil (BRANZ, 2017), which includes appropriate personal protective equipment, dust control, and decontamination procedures.
  • Accessways in and out of the site are independently sampled for the presence of asbestos fibres outside of the disposal area, with no traces of asbestos detected in sampling to-date.
• On-going management of waste cells and facility:
  • Water management / leachate capture – the site’s purpose-built leachate capture system pumps any water from the cells into a water treatment area.
  • Cell management – active cells are managed carefully with loads being covered quickly to ensure minimal dust, odour and overall site cleanliness.
  • Cell completion and rejuvenation - as each waste cell is filled, it will be covered with an impermeable liner and capped with soil before being replanted. TRPs completed cells will remain connected to the water leachate system, but this is more of a precaution as surface water will no longer be able to interact with the landfilled materials.

No, we don’t believe so, and that’s based on scientific reports from expert consultants engaged by both TRP and the West Coast Regional Council.

This includes a hydrological assessment, an impact report and a geotechnical report which assess the risk to the Grey District water supply from TRP as ‘low’ or ‘very low’, even in the event of a significant earthquake.

In simple terms contamination of the community’s water supply would be practically impossible, based on the site’s downstream location from the water intakes, topography, and infrastructure.

Key details:

• TRP is located downstream and approximately 300m north to 360m northwest of the intake for the Coal Creek Water Treatment Plant.
• TRP sits on thick Kaiata Mudstone (papa), about 15–20 m under the site, which acts as a natural liner. Because of this, groundwater flows laterally in the overlying gravel deposit before coming to the surface in a series of natural springs that run around the flank of the site. The gravel deposits are tens of millions of years old have been cemented together by minerals to make a strong formation that transmits water very slowly, so the total volume of water coming from the site is very low.
• The elevation of the groundwater has been measured to work out the direction of groundwater flow and has shown that it is to the west-southwest, away from the water treatment plant. What this means is that the water coming from under the site would need to flow uphill and/or against the flow of water in the Grey River in order to reach the water supply.
• Water samples have been collected from the closest drain to TRP since 2023 and lab tested to identify any changes in water quality that might pose a risk to human health. To date, concentrations have generally been within the range of natural concentrations in groundwater. More importantly, none of the samples collected have contained concentrations that exceed the maximum acceptable values (human health criteria) in the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards.

The geotechnical report conducted by highly respected independent consultants ENGEO identifies the landslide risk to the Grey District Councils water treatment plant as ‘very low’ – see below excerpt.

Based on site observations, geomorphic mapping, and slope stability analysis completed on the two slopes adjacent to Taylorville Road, we consider the risk of inundation from landsliding to Taylorville Road and the water treatment plant to be very low in both normal (non-seismic) and under earthquake conditions.

ENGEO - Slope Stability Analysis December 2024

Not generally no, and we monitor it very closely.

Acknowledging that back in 2023, we’re sorry to say especially to our neighbors, that things got a bit smelly for a period there.  However, we did take quick action by installing a new filtration system and drainage infrastructure with continuous monitoring and ongoing management to minimise odour.

We encourage our neighbours to if they are experiencing any concerns (smell or otherwise) so that we can investigate the source – noting there are other facilities in the area - and take any necessary actions.

Since its establishment in 2021 there have been some challenges, and understandably public questions raised about the site.  However, TRP has worked openly with authorities and officials to address things as quickly and practically as possible. In the last year particularly, we’ve invested in expert guidance from national experts to improve the facility and its operations, including independent scientific reporting to be able to assure the community of the site’s safe operations.

It’s important to note that it’s not unusual for landfill (and other consent holders) to be issued with cautions or abatement notices to rectify issues.  However, that’s not what we want for TRP and we’re investing heavily in the site to get things right now and in the future.

Here are a few examples:

• Following odour concerns, TRP installed a new filtration system and drainage infrastructure, and implemented new policies regarding ongoing monitoring.
• A sediment pond (to contain and treat leachate) was drained and re-developed into a new lined retention pond to avoid discharge prior to treatment. This was done to Environmental Protection Agency standards.
• We’ve engaged expert consultants to develop a groundwater and surface water monitoring program that is in line with industry standards and guidance developed by nationally recognised experts in the waste and resource recovery sector.

Our current 20-year resource consent (RC-2021-0097-V3), allows for the disposal of demolition waste (including cleanfill), whole or shredded tyres, asbestos, coal tar and coal pitch, along with provision for other materials approved by the West Coast Regional Council on a case-by-case basis.

In March 2025 TRP will apply for a revised resource consent. There’s nothing particularly new or controversial to this application – it will simply be more fit for purpose and streamlined to the operation. Noting our current consents still have 17-years to run.

In this new application we are seeking a Class 2 landfill consent. This will largely be as per our current consent, just with more specificity around what materials we can take without external approval.

Included in our consent application will also be our pathway to development of the site, with approval being sought for our next tranche of fully lined waste cells. Noting, these have always been part of the site’s long-term plan. As with the current cells, the application will include specifications for completion and rejuvenation.

We will provide more detail as we compile the application and continue to seek community feedback throughout.

TRP is committed to being as open and upfront with the community as possible and has already commenced proactive engagement regarding our new resource consent application.

This includes reaching out to our neighbours to meet, share information and seek feedback, sharing information with the community via advertising and the media, and inviting key stakeholders to site and / or meetings to complete the feedback loop.

TRPs welcomes feedback at any stage of the consent application process.  We will do our best to respond to all enquiries and share information to address concerns or questions.

TRP should have capacity to operate for the duration of its current consent (until 2042) – but this dependent on a number of factors that may change overtime including new cell development.  Positively as cells are filled and caped the rejuvenation of the site commences at the same time it is being developed elsewhere – meaning when the site is at capacity it will also already be partly rejuvenated.

It’s also important to note that landfills are not short-term operations, their on-going monitoring and management is what makes them and safe sustainable.

Specifically for TRP ongoing groundwater and surface water monitoring will be undertaken for the duration of operations, in accordance with industry standards and guidance developed by nationally recognised experts in the waste and resource recovery sector. Additionally, once operations have completed, monitoring will continue until it can be demonstrated that the landfill no longer has the potential for adverse effects to people or the environment.

You can provide feedback or ask questions here or alternatively email consentfeedback@taylorville.co.nz and our team will be in touch.