Project examples
The main focus of projects undertaken by Air We Breathe has been the preparation of resource consent applications for discharges into air from a range of activities for clients ranging from privately owned New Zealand businesses to multinational industrial companies. However, we also work with local businesses to help them address specific environmental management issues and with regional councils and unitary authorities on policy development and compliance monitoring.
Assessments of Environmental Effects
Assessments of Environmental Effects
Chemical industry
Agpro NZ, 2017
Assessment of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from the manufacture of agrichemicals at Agpro’s East Tamaki plant.
Scope involved a semi-quantitative assessment of emissions from the plant, based largely on previous atmospheric dispersion modelling of discharges from the site, and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Unitary Plan Operative in Part.
Dulux Powder Coatings, 2016 – 2017
Assessments of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from the manufacture of powder coatings at Dulux’ Glenfield plant.
Scope involved atmospheric dispersion modelling and a quantitative assessment of particulate emissions from the plant, responses to further information requests from the council and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Regional Policy Statement, Auckland Council Regional Plan: Air Land and Water and the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.
Rohm & Haas, 2015
Assessment of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from Rohm & Haas’ emulsion plant in Auckland. The initial scope included atmospheric dispersion modelling using CALPUFF, and was later extended to include the preparation of the complete assessment of effects report, finalising consultation and managing the consent application process.
In addition to the technical assessment, this also involved assessment of the proposal against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Regional Policy Statement, Auckland Council Regional Plan: Air Land and Water and the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.
Coating processes
Sealed Air (NZ), 2016-2017
Assessment of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from the manufacture of adhesive tape at Sealed Air’s Glendene plant in Auckland.
Scope involved atmospheric dispersion modelling (using CALPUFF) and a quantitative assessment of emissions from the plant, assistance with consultation, responses to further information requests from the council and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Unitary Plan Operative in Part.
Pacific Wallcoverings, 2015 ongoing
Assessment of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from Pacific Wallcoverings’ Porirua manufacturing plant. Scope involved a qualitative assessment of emissions from printing presses and vinyl coating lines and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Regional Policy Statement for the Wellington region, the Operative Regional Air Quality Management Plan and the Proposed Natural Resources Plan for the Wellington Region.
Provision of additional information related to the health effects of some of the (minor) contaminants, including atmospheric dispersion modelling using CALPUFF representative local meteorological data.
Plastics
Alto Packaging, 2017 ongoing
Assessments of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from the manufacture of polystyrene packaging at Alto’s plant in Rosedale, Auckland.
Scope involves ambient monitoring of butane in the immediate environs of the plant, atmospheric dispersion modelling and a quantitative assessment of the effects of butane emissions from the plant, and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Unitary Plan Operative in Part.
Combustion
Waitikiri Gardens, 2016
Waitikiri Gardens, 2016
Assessment of effects of discharges into air from coal fired boilers at Waitikiri Gardens, Christchurch, for the renewal of their air discharge consent. This involved a largely qualitative assessment, based in part on previous atmospheric dispersion modelling as well as preparation of application documents, response to further information requests from the council and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement, the Natural Resources Regional Plan and the Proposed Canterbury Air Regional Plan.
In response to a further information request from the council, the scope was extended to include atmospheric dispersion modelling and assistance with consultation with affected parties.
Asphalt
Asphalt Supply Company, 2016 ongoing
Provision of planning advice to a manufacturer of asphalt roading material regarding alternate locations for possible distribution points and alternate methods of production.
Assessment of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from the client’s existing asphalt plant in Auckland, including a qualitative assessment of effects of emissions from the plant and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Regional Policy Statement, Auckland Council Regional Plan: Air Land and Water and the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.
Minerals processing
Blue Pacific Minerals, 2015
Assessments of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from Blue Pacific Minerals’ new zeolite processing plant and existing perlite plant in Tokoroa. Scope involved atmospheric dispersion modelling of particulate emissions, consideration of offsets for PM10 and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement and Regional Plan.
The assessment of effects for the new zeolite plant was one of the first projects in New Zealand to consider the PM10 offset requirements under the NESAQ regulations following the 2011 amendments to the regulations. Atmospheric dispersion modelling was used to determine the proportion of PM10 discharges from the site to be offset and the extent to which reductions in PM10 discharges from Blue Pacific Minerals’ old site could be used to offset those discharges.
Animal feeds
Inghams, 2014
Assessment of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from Inghams’ Hamilton feedmill. Scope involved a qualitative assessment of dust emissions from grain elevators and the feedmill and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement and Regional Plan.
Food and beverages
Griffins Foods, 2015-2017
Project management and the assessment of effects of discharges into air from the manufacture chips and snacks at Griffins’ site in Wiri, Auckland, for the renewal of their air discharge consent. The main discharge to air from the site is odour from multiple discharge points, some of which are controlled by the use of thermal oxidisers, while others have no controls other than oil mist eliminators. Scope involved a qualitative assessment of odour emissions from the plant and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Regional Policy Statement, Auckland Council Regional Plan: Air Land and Water and the Auckland Unitary Plan.
Waste treatment
Intergroup, 2017 ongoing
Intergroup, 2017 ongoing
Assessments of environmental effects and preparation of a resource consent application for discharges into air from the operation of a new hazardous waste treatment facility in Onehunga, Auckland.
Scope involves atmospheric dispersion modelling and a semi-quantitative assessment of odour emissions from the plant, advice on odour emissions control, and an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Auckland Unitary Plan Operative in Part.
Other Activities
Review of Technical Publication 152, Auckland Council, 2014
Technical Publication 152 (TP152) provides guidance to council officers and applicants for resource consent on the Auckland Council’s approach to the assessment of discharges to air from industry. It was released in draft form in 2002, but has not been updated since then, and has partially been superseded by other guidance.
The Air We Breathe was commissioned to review and update Chapter 6, which provides guidance on emission control technology, drawing on developments overseas and experience from consent holders in Auckland. My scope also included reviewing the overall structure of TP152, recommending sections that should be retained and updated or removed, as well as additional matters that should be addressed in a revised document.
Review of Technical Publication 152, Auckland Council, 2014
Technical Publication 152 (TP152) provides guidance to council officers and applicants for resource consent on the Auckland Council’s approach to the assessment of discharges to air from industry. It was released in draft form in 2002, but has not been updated since then, and has partially been superseded by other guidance.
The Air We Breathe was commissioned to review and update Chapter 6, which provides guidance on emission control technology, drawing on developments overseas and experience from consent holders in Auckland. My scope also included reviewing the overall structure of TP152, recommending sections that should be retained and updated or removed, as well as additional matters that should be addressed in a revised document.
Emissions control, Browns Bay Barbecue Restaurant, 2016
Browns Bay Barbecue Restaurant was the subject of ongoing complaints regarding emissions of smoke and fume from its kitchen extractor fans. The Air We Breathe was engaged to investigate and to advise on methods to avoid or minimise adverse effects. The solution identified was to replace the existing low vent stacks, fitted with cowls, with taller stacks discharging vertically, thus achieving adequate dispersion of emissions.