Talks Sought On Plant Complaints

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32005, 4 June 1969, Page 14

Talks Sought On Plant Complaints

The directors of Kempthorne, Prosser and Company, Ltd, will be asked by the Paparua County Council for a joint meeting to discuss the complaints of residents about fumes and dust from the company’s fertiliser works at Hornby.

This decision was reached by the council last evening after it had received a report of the meeting among the council's financial committee, company officials and residents on May 8. “It is a meeting that should have been held years ago,” said the chairman (Mr D. H. Warren). “I was amazed to see the distance the health inspectors were away from the plant. We have got to take a fairly tight rein. Until these people improve their housekeeping, we must be prepared for further trouble." The council also agreed to ask the Health Department to define the responsibilities of its chemical inspector (Mr D. Pullen) and the council’s health inspector (Mr G. W. L. Fairhall) in relation to the works. The council was told that after residents had left the committee meeting, discussions continued with the Health Department and company representatives. The works superintendent (Mr P. M. Roberts) said that improvements had been made at the works after complaints. All the complaints could not be attributed to the operation of the works, and it would be generally agreed that there had been a reduction in gases from the plant.

The stockpiling of potash heaps had been discontinued two years ago, said Mr Roberts, and sulphur would in future be stored under cover. The phosphate rock would be stored well back from the frontage, and behind trees.