Woolston L.P.G. depot recommended to County Council

Press, 10 March 1982, Page 6

Woolston L.P.G. depot recommended to County Council

The liquified petroleum gas depot proposed for Woolston was “thoroughly recommended" yesterday to the Heathcote County Council by the commissioner at last year’s town-planning hearing, Mr J. M. McKenzie. “There is quite clearly a need for storage of L.P.G. and I am satisfied that this depot can be safely constructed and operated on the present site," Mr McKenzie said when he presented his draft report on the hearings to the town-planning committee. Safety measures planned by Liquigas, Ltd, for the Chapmans Road site were generally equal if not better than world standards. Hazards from a bleve (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion) had been, almost eliminated by mounding the storage tanks to provide a sort of insulation, he said. Mounding involves burying the storage tanks. “Over all there is little emphasis given to monitoring particularly sensitive locations and plant items, mainly loading bay and pipeline for transfer,” said Mr McKenzie. A condition of approval includes setting up a compre-hensive-monitoring network for leak detection particu-

larly around the pipes-which transfer the L.P.G. for transport. Liquigas had refused tobuy the few nearby residen-, tial properties. likely to be affected by accidents and so Mr McKenzie said that the company must insulate all the depot’s critical support structures as another "safety valve.” “If they are not insulated and if they are subjected to stress, and collapse, that means the whole pipeline structure collapses as well.” Mr McKenzie said he was also concerned about the “unprotected mound of 44 galloon drums of petrol” next door’on the site of an oil company which could be an added danger. In an emergency at the depot all transfer of L.P.G. must stop. In addition, all the valves closed automatically, including the main block valve at the Woolston end of the pipeline. As well, the corresponding block valve at the Lyttelton end of the gas pipeline could also be closed. “I have some reservations about the pipeline’s being left full of gas. Lyttelton gets about five tonnes of gas over it if the pipe ruptures. Heathcote gets 35 tonnes because the gas is running free be-

tween the two block valves and most of it is. coming down the Port Hills,” , said Mr McKenzie. He also said he was dissatisfied with Liquigas’ information on the probable consequences to . the surrounding businesses and residents in the. event of some accident at the depot. He set out several conditions to be met before final approval should be given by the next full Heathcote County Council meeting, including: • The company must undertake a hazard operability study on the possible .effects of variations in all conditions at the depot. • Liquigas must present a comprehensive emergency plan to the relevant local authorities and also consider joining with neighbouring installations to work out an over-all emergency plan. • Liquigas must prepare a more comprehensive , fire protection and prevention system, including a long-run-ning supply water for reducing radiant heat, and chemical extinguishers. Mr McKenzie said the installation of a storage depot in Heathcote could make the area a mecca for companies which needed easy access to alternative fuels.