Canterbury pet crematorium too much for neighbours

Friday, 1 September 2017

Bob Tomkins and his wife Joanne (who has a terminal heart and lung disease) live over the fence from Fond Farewells pet crematorium in Lincoln. They are complaining about the constant noise from the crematorium after it was renovated late last year.

A Canterbury pet crematorium has upgraded its facilities, but some neighbours say its furnaces are now louder than ever.

Fond Farewells Pet Cremation Services, owned by Gribbles Veterinary-Pathology Ltd New Zealand (GVPNZ), upgraded its facilities on Marian Place in Lincoln, south of Christchurch, late last year.

Fond Farewells pet crematorium in Lincoln.

Some residents began complaining of the noise earlier this year and expressed concern at a meeting with crematorium operators and the Selwyn District Council in June.

Bob Tomkins, who lives across from the facility, said the noise sounded 'like a jet engine taking off' and had been a constant 60 decibels.

The crematorium is only meters away from the Tomkins' bedroom window

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Tomkins' wife, Joanne, had a rare heart and lung condition and was terminally ill. He said her condition had deteriorated, which her doctors put down to stress and lack of sleep.

'She's on oxygen machines but this out drones them.'

Tomkins said the crematorium began running one incinerator at a time a couple of weeks ago, which had made a difference, but a constant low hum was still audible on his property.

GVPNZ general manager James Richardson said the company had spent a lot of time and money exceeding the expectations of their consents and being good neighbours.

He said the previous furnaces had been on site for over 40 years and were inefficient; the upgraded facility was designed to have a lower impact on both the environment and neighbours.

'These works have included the specific introduction of noise reduction devices to ensure that the sound emitted from the furnaces comply with the consent limit.'

He said Fond Farewells had been operating at the site for more than 30 years. Urban growth meant the once isolated facility was now met on one boundary by residential buildings.

After the June meeting, GVPNZ committed to further reducing noise from the business 3 zoned site.

Under the Environment Canterbury (ECan) issued resource consent transferred to GVPNZ in June 2003, both incinerators were permitted to run for three hours a day or one for six hours a day. They could run for no more than 25 days a month. The consent also called for restrictions on materials and smells discharged and posed conditions for ash storage.

It would expire in May 2032.

Tomkins said he had no issue with the old furnaces and wanted to know why the crematorium was allowed to open the new ones without a notified consent process.

The council made a non-notified decision in 2015 to allow GVPNZ to redevelop the site, determining the adverse effects on neighbours were 'less than minor'.

The council said GVPNZ had been very cooperative with the council and had taken steps to mitigate the noise.

— This story has been amended. It originally stated that Fond Farewells was the only pet crematorium in the South Island, which was incorrect.