Simon Berry and Craig Malone assisted the Central Hawke's Bay District Council ("CHBDC") with its resource consent applications for authorisations required in connection with the upgrading and ongoing operation of the wastewater treatment and disposal systems at Porangahau Town and Porongahau Beach (Te Paerahi). The applications were initially heard by councillors and an independent hearing commissioner in Napier during May 2009, with the hearing adjourned to allow the Council and local iwi to further discuss the possibility of developing a long term study for the purposes of considering alternatives to the Te Paerahi disposal site. Agreement was reached between CHBDC and iwi during the adjournment, and consents were granted subject to a suite of conditions that were ultimately agreed to by most parties. There were no appeals against CHBDC’s decisions.