Terrible smells trouble locals

POLLUTED AIR: Ian McLean says the strong odours could be caused by hydrocarbon fuels.PHOTO/FILE

More than 140 calls regarding air pollution in Mount Maunganui have been made to the regional Pollution Hotline in the past 18 months.

One-hundred-and-three calls were made to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council hotline in 2014, with another 42 so far this year.

Pollution-prevention team leader Stephen Mellor said the areas of concern were industrial areas around Hewletts Rd, Totara St and Aerodrome Rd.

"At these particular locations, there are many major industrial activities and considerable traffic concentrated within a relatively small area that also has a residential community nearby," he said.

"We have been keeping a close eye on this area for some time and already have a programme of air quality and consent compliance monitoring and response in place."

The air quality measuring site on Totara St measured sulphur dioxide and meteorological conditions, the council website stated.

Every call to the hotline was investigated and each site with a resource consent was monitored for compliance, Mr Mellor said.

A Mount Maunganui woman called the hotline last week to report her concerns about the odour that wafted towards Omanu.

She told the Bay of Plenty Times, there was a strong smell when she dropped her children off at school and it would leave a taste in her mouth.

Biologist Dr Ian McLean said hydrocarbon fuels usually had a strong odour, but smelling them was similar to standing in a petrol station or sitting among exhaust fumes in traffic.

"I'm not surprised people don't like it but we live alongside hydrocarbons every day of our lives.

"Some of the gases are pretty nasty but they're not the ones you can smell."

The smells of an industrial area and major port were the realities of living in Mount Maunganui as was the noise and light pollution, he said.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is reviewing the Regional Air Plan this year. There will be an opportunity for the public to submit on a new plan at the end of the year.