PM: Solution needed for ouvea

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says something must be done to help Mataura residents as they battle with the dangerous substance ouvea premix in their town.

Mataura residents who were evacuated have had the longest wait to get back home because of the concern of flood waters around the building where the premix is stored. And the residents are angry at local government for not sorting out the problem.

Ardern said she was seeking advice on what could be done with the premix.

‘‘Clearly there needs to be a long-term solution found for the residents of Mataura. I have been keeping a close eye on the extreme weather and flooding in Southland over the week and getting regular updates from on the ground. I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts in response to this emergency and acknowledge there will also be a big cleanup ahead,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘I asked Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Civil Defence Minister Peeni Henare to visit Southland and assess what support the Government can provide. Minister Henare has been in regular contact with local mayors throughout and we will make available the resources required.’’

The Gore District Council yesterday said ‘‘assessments this morning of the ouvea premix stored in the former Mataura paper mill found it has not been affected by flood waters’’.

An inspection by council staff and Fire and Emergency NZ was carried out. As well as finding no flood waters had entered the building, it was determined the mill was structurally sound.

The Alliance Group’s Mataura plant and the Mataura Bridge have also been inspected and cleared by emergency services and specialist personnel. The council and emergency services were now working as quickly as possible to get a plan in place to get Mataura residents back into their homes.

Angry Mataura residents are demanding the 10,000 tonnes of ouvea premix be removed.

The premix releases ammonia gas if it gets wet.

Sort Out the Dross action group spokeswoman Laurel Turnbull said Mataura residents had had ‘‘more than a gutsful’’ of the premix being in their town directly beside the river.

It was the second time in two years a high-flowing Mataura River was deemed a threat to the ouvea premix in the building, she said.

Though authorities had put a plan in place to remove the premix from the building over time it was not fast enough, she said.

‘‘We want it gone now ... we are all just so frustrated, everyone is just really angry.’’

She called on the Government to take immediate action.

‘‘The Government has said they are going to give how many thousands of dollars to farmers to fix their farms, and that is good [but] what about us?’’

On Wednesday, O’Connor said he had talked with Environment Minister David Parker and Southland District mayor Gary Tong about the ouvea premix in the building.

‘‘Clearly we have to address this issue.’’ After the assessment had been done a plan would be worked on with Environment Southland and Southland mayors to resolve the situation, he said.