Judds composting site: Residents say odour breaches consent conditions

Neighbours said the smell from a composting site in Gisborne was "soul-destroying". Photo / Imogen Brophy

Rural residents are frustrated by a “soul-destroying” stench from a Gisborne composting facility and say the problem is ongoing, despite repeated complaints to the council.

Residents of MacDonalds Rd, Kemp Rd and Willows Rd made 90 recorded complaints to Gisborne District Council between July 2024 and May 2025 about odour from the Judds composting facility.

They said the faecal and rotten-carcass smell from Judds occasionally reached the Gisborne suburb of Makaraka, about 3km away.

They allege the smell breaches the site’s resource consent conditions, which state air must not cause “offensive odour” beyond the site boundary.

Residents also raised concerns about wastewater from the Judds site entering council drains.