Masterton firefighters trigger oil spill

The oil slick in the stream flowing through Robinson Park and near the Genesis Energy Recreation Centre in Masterton.

Masterton Fire Station staff have put their hands up, taking responsibility for an oil slick which flowed into a stream on Robinson Reserve which feeds into the lake at Queen Elizabeth Park.

A man, who didn't wish to be identified, rang the Greater Wellington Regional Council environmental hotline on Saturday afternoon absolutely disgusted by the slick.

"When I first saw it the whole creek was a rainbow. I was shocked," he told the Times-Age.

The council says the incident is under investigation to identify the source but fire service assistant regional commander Henry Stechman said he believed the fire service was responsible.

Oil had unfortunately flowed into the stream when a sump from the Masterton Fire Station overflowed, spilling the oil onto the ground during a training exercise for volunteers on Saturday, he said.

The exercise was halted when the spill was discovered.

"When one of the vehicles being worked on was cut up and tipped over, oil in the sump leaked out. It was washed into the normal sump which overflowed," he said. "It should not have happened. It's very unfortunate."

The fire service was looking at resurfacing the back yard at the station where training was undertaken and would seek a new eco-friendly system for dealing with similar spillages, Mr Stechman said.

The fire station had been on that site for many years.

"We should have had the sump cleared out ... we have plans to replace them so no residue that happens will go off site at all."

Greater Wellington Regional Council environmental protection team leader Susan Smith said a call about the slick was received about 3.30pm Saturday with a duty officer sent to investigate.

"He observed a hydrocarbon sheen on the surface of the stream and placed absorbent pads in the stream and went back over the weekend to replace these as necessary," she said.