He leaked poison into a creek, killing 1700 fish. He's stuck with the $97k fine

He leaked poison into a creek, killing 1700 fish. He's stuck with the $97k fine

By Jonathan Guildford

Source: stuff

5/26/2020

An employee who killed more than 1700 fish after spilling ammonia into a Christchurch creek has tried — and failed — to escape a $97,000 fine.

Cold storage business Polarcold Stores Ltd broke strict environmental laws when it released ammonia into Kaputone Creek in Belfast, Christchurch in April 2018.

The spill covered a five-kilometre stretch of the creek, killing mainly eels, some of which were longfins — a rare species that is declining in number and regarded as being at risk.

The creek is an important kaimoana site for the Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Iwi.

A cultural impact report from the iwi at the time said members felt the incident wasted their efforts to restore the fishery and habitat.

Polarcold Stores Ltd and its employee, Russell William Trent, were found guilty of the toxic spill in the Christchurch District Court and were fined $145,350, and $97,000 respectively.

Trent appealed the fine on the grounds it was “manifestly excessive”.

A recently released judgment from the appeal hearing outlines new details about the incident.

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