Marlborough trucking company Broadbridge Transport has been fined $15,000 for creek contamination at Renwick.

The company was convicted after discharging truck wash water onto land that resulted in the contamination of the nearby School Creek waterway in Renwick.

According to the prosecution, Broadbridge allowed truck operators to wash their vehicles at its Renwick wash station during the 2020 vintage, which coincided with the Covid-19 lockdown. However its facility was not designed to manage such a large volume of truck wash water or water that was contaminated.

It was later discovered that the wash water residue was contaminated by crushed grapes and grape waste, and after flowing into a roadside drain it was discharged into School Creek.

Testing by Marlborough District Council revealed the creek was severely depleted of oxygen as a consequence of the discharge, which resulted in significant ecological effects, including the deaths of eels. The creek water turned orange and had a strong sulphurous odour.

The directors of Broadbridge pleaded guilty to the offence under the Resource Management Act, and agreed to enter a restorative justice process with council. This resulted in the company committing to environmental improvement measures for School Creek over the next three years.

Marlborough District Council consents and compliance group manager Gina Ferguson said Broadbridge was open and willing to cooperate.

“This was a restorative justice process. The company was open and willing to cooperate from the beginning, and the severity of the penalty was reduced because of their good actions,” she said.

“I believe they underestimated the potential impacts of the discharge, but did what they could to put it right. They accepted responsibility and took ownership of the issue.”

The Council was also awarded costs.