Open Country opens butter plant
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
ODC now has the proud record for the largest fine imposed for any prosecution taken under the Resource Management Act in the Waikato region.
The convictions and fine were imposed in the Morrinsville District Court by Judge Melanie Harland, who stated that the odour impacts on residents were “profound and, of their kind, serious”.
Judge Harland also issued an enforcement order that requires the company to have a community communication plan to keep the community and council informed of any future issues at the plant that may result in objectionable odour being discharged.
