Calls for L.P.G. plans to be made public

Press, 8 February 1980, Page 3

Calls for L.P.G. plans to be made public

Plans for a liquefied petroleum gas terminal in Lyttelton was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Vital aspects of the scheme being put forward by the Liquigas consortium, such as where and how, remained confidential. The chairman (Mr . J. E. Mannering) did ' say, however, that both the board and, the consortium agreed that gas from the bulk supply facility proposed for Lyttelton should be piped over. or through the Port Hills to Christchurch rather than transported by road- or rail.

Several board members said that full plans for the facility should be put before tile public, especially since Sumner residents had expressed concern about tankers laden with L.P.G. going through Sumner. “We 'have been speaking to the consortium and a pipeline is favoured,” said Mr Mannering. Captain A. R. Champion, a board' member and former harbourmaster, asked that all information about the scheme be made available to the board. The harbourmaster (Cap-

tain J. A. Barbour) confirmed that regulations existed for the road and rail transport of L.P.G. but that none had been gazetted as yet on the use of bulk L.P.G. tanker vessels in New Zealand waters or harbours, : and rules had not been drawn up for the bulk storage of the gas.in places-such as Lyttelton.

Mr M. J. Dobson said: “We have a duty to let the public know what is being planned and what regulations will apply." He said he was concerned that the regulations might be gazetted after the . facility has been built.

“We won’t agree with anything that is dangerous,” said Mr Mannering. The board’s general manager (Mr J. A. McPhail)'said that details of preliminary discussions with the Liquigas consortium were being kept confidential at the request of the consortium “at this stage." He said that he believed the consortium might be thinking of adopting safety regulations similar to those in-effect in Australia.

Existing dangerous goods regulations, while covering some aspects of the pro-

posed facility, do not cover the sea transport and shore handling and storage of the gas, a matter which has been of considerable concern to many- Lyttelton. residents.

One source close to the harbour board- management yesterday said “there is no way” that the L.P.G, storage and transfer facility would be built near the existing petroleum storage depot east of Erskine Point.

“It would be too dangerous,” he said.“ That tank farm- is a potential bomb. the way it is, we don’t need any more fuel to touch it off.” It is. also known that the Lyttelton-Borough Council is concerned about placing such a depot near the tank farm or anywhere 1 near the Lyttelton residential' and industrial areas.

An informed source said that the best location would probably be in the Battery Point region but that development work there would take considerable, time and Liquigas had said it .planned to have the facility in use by mid-1981. The Heathcote County Council Works .and Reserves Committee yesterday resolved to ask for advice from the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Works and Development on the transport and. storage of liquefied petroleum gas in the county. The committee was discussing a proposal forwarded by the New Zealand Counties Association, from the National Council of Women suggesting that local councils should nominate preferred routes for transport of L.P.G. and C.N.G. minimising their passage through built-up areas.

The concern of Sumner residents about the possible transport of L.P.G. over Evans Pass was proper, as L.P.G. was a dangerous product, said Mr J. M. McKenzie.

Before the council considered any action on the council of women’s suggestion it, along with Lyttelton and Christchurch councils, needed expert advice, he said, J