Hope in dross proceedings

WELLINGTON: There is renewed hope Mataura may finally be freed of the burden of more than 10,000 tonnes of potentially toxic waste.

Court action taken by the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) against the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter’s owners has those in the Southland town finally feeling optimistic.

The ouvea premix — a waste byproduct of aluminium production — was moved into the disused paper mill in Mataura by a nowdefunct company without resource consent in 2015.

This year that waste, which releases deadly ammonia gas when it gets wet, has been threatened by flooding and fire, and the people of Mataura want it gone.

Sort Out the Dross action group spokeswoman Cherie Chapman said the court action brought hope to Mataura residents.

‘‘The people of Mataura will be delighted to have that stuff out of there,’’ she said.

New Zealand Aluminium Smelters and Rio Tinto reached an agreement with local authorities and the Government in March 2018 to move the waste from Mataura and other sites around Southland over six years.

The EDS has sought a ruling from the Environment Court over who ultimately has legal responsibility for removing the waste.

When the court action began earlier this month, the EDS hoped to get the ouvea premix removed by this Christmas.

The judicial settlement conference continued this week.

Alternate Environment Judge Laurie Newhook issued a minute this week, saying the parties were ‘‘strongly engaged in urgently speeding up the process’’.

He set down two further conferences for this month.

Ms Chapman said Mataura deserved to be free of the threat of the waste once and for all, but she was concerned alternative sites might mean the burden was shifted on to other communities.

‘‘I’m concerned . . . it should be just going back to Tiwai. I think it’s outrageous that Rio Tinto don’t just make that offer given they’ve got their land out there.’’

Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said the agreement reached in 2018 was the best deal that could be done at the time, but he was grateful for the EDS’ efforts.

‘‘This has been going on a long time and I’m hesitant to say we’re nearing the end, but I’d like to think that is the case and it’d be fantastic if that news does emerge . . .’’

Mataura Community Board chairman Alan Taylor was also pleased to hear of the progress.

‘‘It is a huge relief for the community. There’s been an awful lot of words spoken about it and they’re still working through the process and . . . nobody wants it in their community, especially in a builtup community.’’

The Ministry for the Environment could not confirm on Wednesday how much ouvea premix had been removed since the Level 4 lockdown ended.

In July, more than 8500 tonnes remained in the mill. — RNZ