Trio sentenced over stockpiles of tyres
The trio behind a failed tyre-recycling scheme have been ordered by a court to pay more than $100,000 for breaches of the Resource Management Act.
The sentencing brings an end to nearly six years of legal fighting over more than 2,000 tonnes of old tyres that had piled up at sites in Kawerau and Waihi.
Father and daughter Alan and Angela Merrie, and Jonathon Spencer – all former directors of EcoVersion – appeared at Tauranga District Court on June 23, 2021, for sentencing.
They had all earlier pleaded guilty to contravening or permitting contravention of an enforcement order under the Resource Management Act.
The Merries were each sentenced to 190 hours of community work, plus court costs and solicitor’s costs. They were also ordered to pay $25,000 each towards the costs incurred by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Spencer was handed a fine of $29,750, plus costs, as well as being ordered to pay $25,000 towards the council’s costs.
Sentencing of the trio took place on May 26, 2021, but Judge Prudence Steven reserved her decision until this week, reports Stuff.
The problems began in 2015 when EcoVersion landed a $280,000 contract from Hamilton City Council to remove 150,000 tyres from the failed Frankton Tyre Yard.
EcoVersion failed to fulfil its promise to start a tyre-recycling business in Kawerau and tyres started piling up. Tonnes of tyres were later also taken to a site in Waihi.
Prosecutor Victoria Brewer told the court the case highlights the difficulty end-of-life tyres pose for New Zealand, “it isn’t easy [to dispose of them] and it is expensive”.
