Marfell Park remains open despite dangers
Monday, 29 June 2009, 9:37 am
Press Release: Green Party
Marfell Park remains open despite dangers
27 June 2009
Marfell Park remains open despite dangers
New Plymouth's Marfell Park remains open to the public and without warning signs despite test results made public this week indicating the likelihood of widespread toxic contamination.
"Protecting our children from any further risk of exposure to the toxic chemicals in Marfell Park should be the top priority," said Green Party Toxics Spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.
"Amazingly, not only is the Park still open to the public, but there are not even signs warning of the risks.
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"The Park must be closed to the public and fenced off immediately - a wait-and-see approach is just too dangerous."
Council testing of soil from Marfell Park detected a range of chemicals, not just the three chemicals initially identified and associated with the recovered drums.
"The evidence points to more widespread contamination than initially reported," said Ms Delahunty.
"Despite overwhelming public concern and many meetings of Councils and the District Health Board, the Park remains open to unsuspecting families," said Ms Delahunty.
The only fence is one erected to prevent children playing on the stock-pile of clean soil that will be used to recover the playground.
"Even the most simple and common-sense protection measure of putting up warning signs has not occurred.
"I urge the Council to adopt a safety-first approach until further testing is done to identify the scale of the contamination. It's much better to be safe than sorry."
While the additional chemicals identified are within acceptable levels in soil, they are unlikely to be associated with the recovered drums, pointing to other sources of contamination from the dump under the Park, Ms Delahunty said.
Two weeks ago, the Taranaki Regional Council notified positive tests for three chemicals containing dioxin. The tests showed levels that are some of the highest ever found.
The soil analysis, released to the public this week, showed levels of chlordane, dieldrin, pentachlorophenol, fenchlorophos and indicators of DDT.
"Most of these chemicals are now banned due to their extreme toxicity, and some are members of the notorious "dirty dozen" club of lethal chemicals," Ms Delahunty said.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Greens demand closure of Marfell Park.
Greens demand closure of park ... TDN 30/06/09
Marfell Park must be closed immediately to ensure the safety of the community, says the Green Party's spokesperson, Catherine Delahunty.
"The park must be closed to the public and fenced off immediately.
"A wait-and-see approach is just too dangerous," Ms Delahunty said.
The call is in response to the find by New Plymouth District Council contractors in May of drums containing toxic chemicals, including dioxin, were uncovered during the excavation of a stormwater trench.
However, the Taranaki Regional Council yesterday continued to reassure residents that there was now no health risk after both the drums containing toxic chemicals and the soil surrounding them were removed.
That stance is supported by independent contaminants consultant Graeme Proffitt, who has been brought in by the TRC to deal with the contentious incident.
Following behind-door community consultation last week, Dr Proffitt's report on what should happen now with the park is due to be released next Monday.
But Ms Delahunty urged the council to adopt a safety-first approach until further testing was done to identify the scale of the contamination.
To date, testing of soil from the park had detected a range of chemicals, not just the three initially identified and associated with the recovered drums, she said.
"The evidence points to more widespread contamination than initially reported," she said.
The soil analysis released last week showed levels of chlordane, dieldrin, pentachlorophenol, fenchlorophos and indicators of DDT.
"Most of these chemicals are now banned due to their extreme toxicity and some are members of the notorious `dirty dozen' club of lethal chemicals," Ms Delahunty said.
While a fence had now been erect to prevent children playing on the stockpile of clean soil to be used to re-cover the playground, there should be warning signs.
"Despite overwhelming public concern and many meetings of councils and the [Taranaki] District Health Board, the park remains open to unsuspecting families.
"Even the most simple and commonsense protection measure of putting up warning signs has not occurred."
TRC environment director Gary Bedford responded that the area was safe for the public to use. All relevant information on the find and the clean-up could be found on the TRC website, he said.
"The information we have provided addresses why we have acted in the way that we have."
Last week, after the Taranaki District Health Board was briefed by the TRC, the board's principal health protection officer, David de Jager, said that the TDHB was happy with the action being taken by the TRC.
The 16 questionnaires returned last week following a letter drop to about 230 homes in the Marfell area had expressed genuine interest and concern, Mr Bedford said.Dr Proffitt's brief was to engage with the community and come up with a site assessment and investigation plan that could provide answers for the community, Mr Bedford said.
"The basic question is whether the park is safe for neighbours and residents."
Dr Proffitt's report would be publicly released next Monday after it was put past both key agencies and community representatives "to make sure we have got it right", Mr Bedford said.
Marfell Park must be closed immediately to ensure the safety of the community, says the Green Party's spokesperson, Catherine Delahunty.
"The park must be closed to the public and fenced off immediately.
"A wait-and-see approach is just too dangerous," Ms Delahunty said.
The call is in response to the find by New Plymouth District Council contractors in May of drums containing toxic chemicals, including dioxin, were uncovered during the excavation of a stormwater trench.
However, the Taranaki Regional Council yesterday continued to reassure residents that there was now no health risk after both the drums containing toxic chemicals and the soil surrounding them were removed.
That stance is supported by independent contaminants consultant Graeme Proffitt, who has been brought in by the TRC to deal with the contentious incident.
Following behind-door community consultation last week, Dr Proffitt's report on what should happen now with the park is due to be released next Monday.
But Ms Delahunty urged the council to adopt a safety-first approach until further testing was done to identify the scale of the contamination.
To date, testing of soil from the park had detected a range of chemicals, not just the three initially identified and associated with the recovered drums, she said.
"The evidence points to more widespread contamination than initially reported," she said.
The soil analysis released last week showed levels of chlordane, dieldrin, pentachlorophenol, fenchlorophos and indicators of DDT.
"Most of these chemicals are now banned due to their extreme toxicity and some are members of the notorious `dirty dozen' club of lethal chemicals," Ms Delahunty said.
While a fence had now been erect to prevent children playing on the stockpile of clean soil to be used to re-cover the playground, there should be warning signs.
"Despite overwhelming public concern and many meetings of councils and the [Taranaki] District Health Board, the park remains open to unsuspecting families.
"Even the most simple and commonsense protection measure of putting up warning signs has not occurred."
TRC environment director Gary Bedford responded that the area was safe for the public to use. All relevant information on the find and the clean-up could be found on the TRC website, he said.
"The information we have provided addresses why we have acted in the way that we have."
Last week, after the Taranaki District Health Board was briefed by the TRC, the board's principal health protection officer, David de Jager, said that the TDHB was happy with the action being taken by the TRC.
The 16 questionnaires returned last week following a letter drop to about 230 homes in the Marfell area had expressed genuine interest and concern, Mr Bedford said.Dr Proffitt's brief was to engage with the community and come up with a site assessment and investigation plan that could provide answers for the community, Mr Bedford said.
"The basic question is whether the park is safe for neighbours and residents."
Dr Proffitt's report would be publicly released next Monday after it was put past both key agencies and community representatives "to make sure we have got it right", Mr Bedford said.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Childrens Playground Finally Fenced off.
Local authorities finally fence off Marfell Park toxic dump site.
Taranaki Regional Council has advised the New Plymouth District Council that the area is still a workplace and must be secured, Large holes remain in the ground.
Residents believe the regional authority initially concealed the extent of the toxic chemicals found at the site of a children's play ground. And say the contaminated area should have been fenced off weeks ago when the contaminated drums were found.
Taranaki Regional Council is now finally doing a investigation plan with authorities and community leaders for the New Plymouth park where contaminated drums were found.
Remnants of nine drums containing organophosphate insecticide and dioxin from the old New Plymouth Paritutu IWD chemical plant now Dow Agrosciences were unearthed last month at Marfell Park, which used to be a city dump.
Testing detected contaminants at a level that campaigners say is the highest ever found in New Zealand.
Regional council spokesperson Gary Bedford says investigations will involve sampling to look for any evidence that toxins remain, and the plan should be ready in about a week.
Taranaki Regional Council has advised the New Plymouth District Council that the area is still a workplace and must be secured, Large holes remain in the ground.
Residents believe the regional authority initially concealed the extent of the toxic chemicals found at the site of a children's play ground. And say the contaminated area should have been fenced off weeks ago when the contaminated drums were found.
Taranaki Regional Council is now finally doing a investigation plan with authorities and community leaders for the New Plymouth park where contaminated drums were found.
Remnants of nine drums containing organophosphate insecticide and dioxin from the old New Plymouth Paritutu IWD chemical plant now Dow Agrosciences were unearthed last month at Marfell Park, which used to be a city dump.
Testing detected contaminants at a level that campaigners say is the highest ever found in New Zealand.
Regional council spokesperson Gary Bedford says investigations will involve sampling to look for any evidence that toxins remain, and the plan should be ready in about a week.
Taranaki Regional Council said...
The Latest on Marfell Park
More toxic chemicals than officials previously admitted were unearthed in a New Plymouth playground last month.
Earthworks uncovered the remnants of nine drums in Marfell Park.
The Taranaki Regional Council said it found dioxin in two of the six samples tested.
But the full results, which have still not been issued by the council, show all six samples contain dioxin and four are contaminated with organophosphate insecticide.
The council says it focused on the worst dioxin contamination and none of the chemicals pose a current risk.
But dioxin campaigner Andrew Gibbs says officials keep trying to hide the extent of the problem.
More toxic chemicals than officials previously admitted were unearthed in a New Plymouth playground last month.
Earthworks uncovered the remnants of nine drums in Marfell Park.
The Taranaki Regional Council said it found dioxin in two of the six samples tested.
But the full results, which have still not been issued by the council, show all six samples contain dioxin and four are contaminated with organophosphate insecticide.
The council says it focused on the worst dioxin contamination and none of the chemicals pose a current risk.
But dioxin campaigner Andrew Gibbs says officials keep trying to hide the extent of the problem.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Dam Disgrace..
Thje People's Choice Party Press Release 10/06/2009
Rusty Kane Party Leader and Mt Albert Candidate.
Its a dam disgrace..
Taranaki Regional Council environmental quality officer Gary Bedford comment saying the drums of toxic chemicals uncovered at the children's playground at Marfell Park New Plymouth were not a health risk. When the dioxin by product contained in them is the most toxic chemical known to man. Is deplorable. These same blasé comments from him and other community leaders in the past have never been helpful to those who have been effected and have taken their issues of the whole Paritutu IWD chemical dumping and exposure seriously. Taking their complaints to these very people who are entrusted to protect public health to no avail. Those “Shel be right” it didn't happen, its in the past, get over it comments from officials have for years denied those effected from being taken seriously in the community and getting proper medical care for their illnesses. Now lets get this straight the dumping of chemicals from the old IWD plant did happen in many places around New Plymouth and Taranaki at that time and yes many New Plymouth residents were exposed to air blown chemical partials in and around the area of the old IWD chemical plant now Dow Agrow Sciences plant at Paritutu. The Government Dow and local authorities have known this for years, have denied it and to date still have not apologised or compensated those effected. And for those who still boo hoo these comments, get on your search engines and type in Dioxin. And you will find we are not alone the Dow Corporation is and has polluted many countries land rivers and streams with their chemical by products.
"The People's Choice Party"
PO Box 41002, St Lukes, Auckland 1346 topps@kol.co.nz
Contact: Rusty Kane
Phone: 06-758 7688
Postal address: PO Box 5111, New Plymouth 4343
Email: rusty.kane@gmail.com
Rusty Kane Party Leader and Mt Albert Candidate.
Its a dam disgrace..
Taranaki Regional Council environmental quality officer Gary Bedford comment saying the drums of toxic chemicals uncovered at the children's playground at Marfell Park New Plymouth were not a health risk. When the dioxin by product contained in them is the most toxic chemical known to man. Is deplorable. These same blasé comments from him and other community leaders in the past have never been helpful to those who have been effected and have taken their issues of the whole Paritutu IWD chemical dumping and exposure seriously. Taking their complaints to these very people who are entrusted to protect public health to no avail. Those “Shel be right” it didn't happen, its in the past, get over it comments from officials have for years denied those effected from being taken seriously in the community and getting proper medical care for their illnesses. Now lets get this straight the dumping of chemicals from the old IWD plant did happen in many places around New Plymouth and Taranaki at that time and yes many New Plymouth residents were exposed to air blown chemical partials in and around the area of the old IWD chemical plant now Dow Agrow Sciences plant at Paritutu. The Government Dow and local authorities have known this for years, have denied it and to date still have not apologised or compensated those effected. And for those who still boo hoo these comments, get on your search engines and type in Dioxin. And you will find we are not alone the Dow Corporation is and has polluted many countries land rivers and streams with their chemical by products.
"The People's Choice Party"
PO Box 41002, St Lukes, Auckland 1346 topps@kol.co.nz
Contact: Rusty Kane
Phone: 06-758 7688
Postal address: PO Box 5111, New Plymouth 4343
Email: rusty.kane@gmail.com
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