Project Examples

Intensive Farming Air Discharge Consents
Industrial Air Discharge Consents
INDEPENDENT AIR QUALITY EXPERT REVIEW

Intensive Farming Air Discharge Consents

NZ Air has worked with applicants whom wish to develop new intensive farming operations, increase the scale or size of an existing farm, or retrofit an existing farm to meet new animal welfare standards.

Where possible NZ Air has facilitated non-notified air discharge consent applications, however if the application has been notified, NZ Air has presented expert evidence at the hearing to support the application through to granting.

Project examples

Patoa Pig Farm

Medbury

NZ Air obtained a replacement air discharge consent for an expansion of one of the largest free range pig farms in New Zealand. NZ Air undertook air dispersion modelling in AERMOD to demonstrate the potential increase in off-site odour effects as a result of the farm expansion and assisted in obtaining the required affected party approvals. By working closely with the applicant and Environment Canterbury’s consent processing team, NZ Air was able to facilitate the granting of a non-notified air discharge consent.

Mainland Poultry

Orini Egg Layer Farm

Mainland Poultry required a land use consent to develop a new chicken egg layer farm at a greenfield site in Orini, Waikato. NZ Air undertook odour sampling at an exiting farm to develop conservative odour emission rates for the proposed farm. Then NZ Air developed prognostic meteorological data sets for the site, undertook air dispersion modelling in both AERMOD and CALPUFF, and worked with the applicant to refine the shed design to achieve lower off-site impacts.

The application was notified by the Waikato District Council and Donovan Van Kekem presented expert evidence and participated in expert caucusing at the subsequent hearing. After the decision to grant the consent was appealed by submitters, Donovan provided expert advice for Environment Court proceedings.

Industrial Air Discharge Consents

NZ Air has worked with a wide range of industries to obtain air discharge consents for a variety of pollutant discharges. For example, discharges from the following activities have been assessed:
  • Plastic moulding
  • Oil and gas facilities
  • Laundry facilities
  • LPG, diesel and coal fired boilers
  • Backup power and load shedding generators
  • Food preparation and processing facilities
  • Wastewater processes
  • Polystyrene moulding
  • Quarry operations
  • Incinerators
  • Composting
  • Waste transfer stations
  • Landfills
  • Printing factories
  • Spray painting booths
  • Abrasive blasting
  • Pet food factories
Project examples

University of Canterbury

Engineering Department Fire Laboratory

As a result of the Christchurch earthquakes, the University of Canterbury needed to build a new fire laboratory for its fire engineering department. The fire laboratory is used for fire engineering research and development. A very wide range of materials are/could be burnt in the experimental burns undertaken in this facility. State of the art air pollution control equipment has been installed to minimise potential off-site effects in this sensitive receiving environment. An all encompassing air discharge consent was sought during the design phase. A wide range of complex air dispersion modelling was undertaken to demonstrate compliance with ambient air quality criteria beyond the boundary of the site.

Once the consent was granted, NZ Air designed, facilitated and reported on a stack testing project to assess compliance of the built infrastructure.

Amcor Flexible Packaging

Branston Street Factory Upgrade

As a part of a merger of two Christchurch based flexible packaging printing and production plants, Amcor required a replacement consent for its Branston Street factory. This involved assessing variable discharges of ozone and a range of VOC’s from 24 discrete discharge points. NZ Air facilitated a stack testing program to obtain pollutant emission rates and undertook a number of air dispersion modelling runs to assist in designing the plant reconfiguration such that off-site effects were below the relevant ambient air quality criteria. A non-notified replacement air discharge consent was obtained for this site.

Independent Air Quality Expert Review

District and Regional Councils

Donovan Van Kekem of NZ Air has provided a range of independent expert air quality review services for Regional and District Councils. Technical reports and advice have been provided to Council to inform Councils during the Section 88, Section 42A, and notification processes. Where required Donovan has attended hearings as an air discharge expert on behalf of Council. Donovan has undertaken reviews of consent applications from the following industries/activities:
  • Quarry operations
  • Composting facilities
  • Waste transfer stations
  • Asphalt plants
  • Pig Farms
  • Abrasive blasting and painting
  • Spray painting booths
  • Abrasive blasting
  • Wool scouring
  • Fertiliser facilities
  • Hospital expansion
  • Saw mill
  • Backup power generators
  • Chemical storage facility
Project examples

Intelligro

Composting and Materials Handling Air Discharge Consent Application

As a part of the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 extension, South Hort (Intelligro) were required to surrender land to NZTA. As a result, the site needed to re-configure its operations and required an air discharge consent. Donovan undertook a technical review of the application on behalf of Environment Canterbury and attended the subsequent hearing as an air quality expert on behalf of the Regional Council. The review included:
  • a site visit;
  • assisting in writing the Section 92 request for further information;
  • reviewing both the application and the Section 92 response;
  • writing a technical review report;
  • reviewing submissions and the applicant’s evidence; and
  • writing and presenting expert evidence at the subsequent hearing.
NZ Air also undertook a review of a subsequent air discharge consent application for an expansion of operations at the South Hort site onto a neighbouring land parcel.

NZ AIR IS AN AIR QUALITY CONSULTANCY specialising IN

  • Expert evidence
  • Air discharge consent applications
  • Odour assessments
  • Nuisance dust assessments
  • Air quality monitoring
  • Dispersion modelling
Phone Donovan, 021-329970

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