Environment Court Judge Brian Dwyer is presiding over a case in Invercargill.
Two companies accused of discharging contaminants onto a rural property from an old industrial site in Gore have been taken to the Environment Court. The trial, before Judge Brian Dwyer started in Invercargill on Wednesday and pits Environment Southland against Johnstone Construction Limited and Marshalls Excavating Limited. Both companies have been charged with discharging a contaminant onto or into land from industrial or trade premises. An Environment Southland summary of facts outlining the case says in 2017 an industrial site in Mersey St, Gore was being redeveloped, with Johnstone Construction engaged to demolish existing structures and build a service station. In turn, Johnstone Construction engaged Marshalls Excavating to dispose of waste from the site, contaminated or otherwise.
RESIDENTS, retailers and hospitality traders have been reacting to the news of a Welsh Government U-turn on a five-day Christmas “relaxation period”. On Saturday First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a sudden Tier Four lockdown restriction for Wales, which then started at midnight. Traders said they had no warning, with some scrambling to extend their opening hours for the day. All non-essential shops and other services such as gyms have now closed, while hospitality traders can only serve takeaway food. The previous Christmas restrictions – allowing two households to mix in a bubble for five days – will now only apply on Christmas Day.