23 May 2000
Urgent hearing needed on illegal factory discharges
Green Party MP Sue Kedgley is calling for a full and urgent public hearing to determine whether a resource consent
should be given to the Chemcolour pesticide factory in Glenfield, which has been producing air discharges illegally.
"I am appalled that a factory located next to a school and surrounded by suburban housing is being allowed to discharge
potentially toxic chemicals illegally when we have not had a full public analysis of the environmental and public health
effects of this operation," Ms Kedgley said.
Local residents in the Bruce Road area have asked Ms Kedgley to help them in their efforts to clean up the air pollution
in the area. A number of them have been complaining about offensive smells arising from the factory and are worried that
they are being exposed to highly toxic chemicals.
According to the resource consent application, forty different chemicals with the potential to become airborne are used
at the factory including methylene bis(thiocyanate) which is highly toxic if inhaled, and a severe eye and skin
irritant.
"For all we know, local school children and residents could be exposed to much more than just a foul smell. It is a
potential issue for the public health of the entire area and needs to be sorted out properly," Ms Kedgley said.
Chemcolour applied retrospectively for a resource consent in March, even though it had been producing air discharges
illegally for some time. The application was delayed when the Auckland Regional Council sought a risk assessment
analysis from the factory, which is now three weeks overdue.
Ends
Sue Kedgley MP: 04 470 6728, 025 270 9088 Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 110 1133