Overcoming Consenting Challenges For Fonterra Lichfield Expansion

In January 2014, Fonterra Ltd made the decision to install a new milk powder dryer at its Lichfield Dairy Manufacturing site, to more than double the site’s milk processing capacity. A resource consent application for the site’s process wastewater irrigation was lodged with Waikato Regional Council in June 2014, and the consent was granted in December 2014 without a hearing being required. This was a significant achievement, particularly given the challenges of supporting the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River, which has the objective of restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the river. The critical success factors for the consenting project were:

• An early commitment by Fonterra’s Lichfield site in supporting the Vision and Strategy by ensuring there is no increase in nutrient inputs into groundwater or surface waters in the short term, and reducing nitrogen discharges into the Waikato River catchment by 10% by 2021.
• Rigorous scientific assessment of the proposal and its effects on the environment, and a holistic approach to management practices to minimise nutrient losses from wastewater irrigation.
• Meaningful consultation by Fonterra with Raukawa Charitable Trust, who have mana whenua for the area, and close liaison with Council’s staff throughout the consenting project.