Judge questions validity of council's abatement noticeMARTY SHARPE Russell Roads Ltd gravel processing operation at Maraekakaho, 20km west of Hastings. But an Environment Court judge says there are "seriously arguable questions" about the validity of the notice, which was issued by Hastings District Council on Russell Roads Ltd on November 6. The company successfully applied to the Environment Court for a stay of the abatement notice last month. There were "seriously arguable questions" as to whether the activity had existing rights use and as to "the validity of the abatement notice itself". He said it would be unreasonable for the company to comply with the abatement notice pending the court's decision on the appeal the company filed.

Source: Stuff January 03, 2018 23:04 UTC