Families demand investigation into dioxin contamination

11.45am

Three Eastern Bay of Plenty families are protesting at the length of time being taken to investigate the amount of toxic chemicals in their soil.

Two of the families, headed by Ross and Debbie Brown and Kim and Wendy Manson, with their supporters, camped out on the edge of the Mataatua Reserve on Sunday before marching through the Whakatane central business district early yesterday morning.

A third couple, Jim and Era Bedford, were unable to attend the rally, but are also protesting at the delays.

The group attempted to join a meeting on the issue being held at the Whakatane council offices by representatives from Sawmill Workers Against Poisons (Swap), Whakatane District Council, Toi Te Ora Public Health, Pacific Health and Environment Bay of Plenty.

Carter Holt Harvey representatives from Whakatane, Kinleith and Auckland were also at the meeting with bioremedial professor Roberta Farrell.

The protesters were refused admission, but district mayor Colin Hammond promised to meet them on Thursday.

The families live on White Pine Bush Rd, on the edge of a former waste dumping ground.

Debbie Brown had been ill since the late 1990s, with initial tests showing she had multiple sclerosis.

A neurologist later withdrew this diagnosis and the family says it had no further answers from medical professionals as to why her health is deteriorating.

The initial diagnosis led to the Browns trying to sell their property. They found out from a visitor to an open home that the area was contaminated by dumped waste.

Testing was carried out in February last year which showed a high level of toxins just under the soil. However, the family had not yet had the results of any PCP testing, said Mr Brown.

Once the high level of toxins was shown, the family moved. They were now unable to sell their property, which was originally valued at $319,000.

"We keep dropping the price, but now with the high level of contamination, we cannot give it away."

Their neighbours, the Mansons, have had their property tested, and although they have results showing no TB in their livestock, there are toxins in the soil.

"Although the levels are not as high, because we have not had leaching into our property the way the Browns have, we are still very concerned. We have had the property on the market for three years, and cannot find a buyer."

The area is number seven on the list of ten sites being tested by consultants on behalf of the authorities.

It is described by Environment Bay of Plenty as the old Waioho Stream bed which was diverted in 1960. From November 1983 to May 1986 the former New Zealand Forest Products filled the old streambed with woodwaste.

Plans were for the fill to be capped with a coffer dam but this did not happen, hence the leaching into the soils of the White Pine Bush Rd properties.

Mr Brown said the group had found documents that showed that in 1978 when Forest Products applied to the Whakatane council for permission to dump wood waste in the area, they were barred from dumping toxic or liquid waste.

"But obviously they went ahead and dumped the toxic and liquid waste, because that is what has shown up in our soil."

The Ministry for the Environment told the family to take its concerns to the company that dumped the waste.

"Forest Products was wholly government owned at that time and who would have attempted to take the government on?

"We will meet anyone, but we do need to speak to those in power to explain our case."

Sawmill Workers Against Poisons co-ordinator Joe Harawira said he fully supported the protesters.

"The Browns have real concerns and I understand their needing to highlight it in the way they have. It is about time they had some answers. They have already been waiting a very long time."

Mr Harawira said: "We have gone past the blame factor. Now it is remediation which is essential. It is the health of the community that has to be paramount.

Mr Harawira said there had already been 43 known deaths attributed to toxins in New Zealand.

Ten of these occurred this year.

"It is shameful that so many have died already. We have to get the remediation process started."

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)