Polluting pig farmer cut off from supply of supermarket scraps by council
Taranaki pig farmer Robert Dawson said he was 'slowing down" on his Alfred Rd piggery after neighbours complaints about smell and runoff. (File photo)
A 'hobby' pig farmer has been forced to find an alternative source of animal feed after the Taranaki Regional Council issued abatement notices to three supermarkets supplying food scraps.
Robert Dawson of Alfred Rd south of New Plymouth, was fined $750 by the regional council in February for discharging polluted water from his small piggery into the Waiwhakaiho River.
The river is used as a main source for New Plymouth's freshwater supply.
Dawson had previously been fined in August and October for similar non-compliance following complaints to the council by neighbours of a strong odour from the farm.
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In March the regional council issued to abatement notices to three supermarkets to stop supplying Dawson with food scraps - bread, fruit and vegetables - to feed his pigs, a TRC consents and regulatory committee meeting was told.
The Dawson's property is right next to the Waiwhakaiho River, the main source of drinking water for New Plymouth.
In a report to the committee, resource management director Fred McLay said the latest complaint alleged leachate was seeping from a poorly fenced paddock, where the pigs were housed, into the river.
Taranaki Regional Council have warned three supermarkets not to supply the pig farm with food scraps. (File photo)
A site visit by regional council staff showed a large amount of decayed vegetable waste discharging from three low lying areas and draining into the river, despite previous abatement notices being issued to Dawson to comply with regulations to prevent runoff, the report said.
Dawson, who has a history of animal neglect and non-compliance, told Stuff this week he had reduced the number of pigs on the farm by half from the 12 animals he previously farmed and bred.
His wife, Liz Dawson, said the complaints were from a neighbour who had originally wanted to buy the property, and felt aggrieved.
The couple refused to further discuss the incident.
Pig farmer Robert Dawson has reduced the number of pigs on his farm after complaints about smell. (File photo)
Neighbour Murray Sandford said pigs were still wallowing in the mud at the property.
"When it rains, it all runs into the river," he said.
Another neighbour, who did not want to give his name, said Dawson had been seen carting food waste at night to the property.
"The place is tidier than it was, it's improving but there is still a strong smell and it's still an eyesore," they said.
Dawson was also fined $300 in March for burning rubbish near the Alfred Rd farm after complaints about smoke drifting across neighbouring properties.
In 2016 he was fined $6000 for animal neglect on a different property.
- Stuff
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