Defence Force told to front up

Officials and residents are frustrated at the Defence Force’s handling of the water-contamination problem at O¯ hakea, saying they want someone in uniform to front up.

Environment Minister David Parker met with those affected by the contamination on Tuesday night to discuss issues that still needed sorting.

Manawatu¯ mayor Helen Worboys said although it was good Parker attended the meeting, he shouldn’t have been the one standing in front of them.

She said nobody was blaming the Defence Force for the contamination, but they were blaming it for not taking ownership of the problem.

Worboys said the Defence Force had been invited to numerous meetings, along with other officials, and until recently defence had been the missing link around the table, which was causing frustration.

She said even though the Ministry for the Environment was the Government agency leading the response to the contamination, ownership of the problem was still with the O¯ hakea air force base.

Testing near the air base started in December last year after the discovery of contamination from the use of toxic firefighting foam.

In late January this year, it was confirmed the toxic chemicals were present in high levels at nearby properties, including in water residents were drinking. Officials have said this should not result in acute health problems.

Worboys said Parker was showing empathy and compassion for the community and the effect it had on them.

Before the meeting on Tuesday night, Parker said there had been discussion about where to from here.

That included management of soil and water problems, as well as a report into the economic, social and culture effects of the contamination.

He said at the meeting residents expressed frustration towards the Defence Force. He would pass their feedback on, but would not comment about whether he thought the Defence Force was handling the situation appropriately.

A New Zealand Defence Force spokesman said the organisation had supplied and installed six water tanks to affected landowners in O¯ hakea and four in Woodbourne.