KEY POINTS:
The Government will fast-track an investigation into contamination at the site of a major fire in Taranaki this week.
About 300 residents of Patea were evacuated after a fire broke out at an asbestos-laden derelict meat works across the river from the town shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
The all clear to return home was given on Wednesday evening but residents have been advised to keep their windows shut as an assessment is made of the chemicals in the ruins.
Firefighters are continuing to dampen down the site, amid a clamour of calls for the Government to help with its cleanup.
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard today said that was a possibility and the Government was now prioritising an urgent investigation of the site in conjunction with the local council.
The Government would pay $60,000 of the $100,000 cost of investigating the dangerous chemicals.
Mr Mallard said an assessment of the site had been planned for this month. Usually the process would take years, but that was now likely to be fast-tracked.
He said he was hoping to receive co-ordinated advice from all the agencies involved next week, so the Government could put together a response, which would most likely extend to assistance with the cleanup.
"There is not much doubt from the briefing I've received that there is a real danger, that there is significant asbestos within the ruins and it will need to be sorted," he said on Radio New Zealand.
"I'm absolutely certain there will be a sharing of the cost because ... when you have something that's abandoned in that way it's very hard to get the original polluter to pay."
Meanwhile, washing of houses in Patea will start today.
Craig Stevenson, chief executive of South Taranaki District Council, said anyone concerned about contamination could have their houses washed down by the Fire Service and a council rural fire tanker.
Taranaki Regional Council was looking at covering the site with a chemical used on dusty roads that bound particles together and stopped them blowing around.
A new fence would be erected to secure the site. There would also be a leaflet drop to residents with information.
Results of samples taken at the site will not be ready until Monday and a further assessment of what needed to be done would occur after the results were known.
He said there were several private owners of the site, including a local farmer who grazed livestock and a company with directors in Australia who were notoriously hard to get hold of.
"Our priority is to deal with the issue, we'll figure out responsibility and cost sharing later," he said.
- NZPA
