Council puts forward L.P.G. objections

Press, 20 August 1982, Page 4

Council puts forward L.P.G. objections

Lyttelton residents feared that the berthing of liquefied petroleum gas tankers at the port would create an accident risk, the Commission of Inquiry was told yesterday. Or Mary Cretney presented the Lyttelton Borough Council’s objections to the proposal. She said that the council’s policy on L.P.G. had been quite clear. It was not opposed to the fuel’s coming through the borough, but it was opposed to the berthing and unloading of tankers at the oil wharf in the inner harbour. “The council has never questioned that L.P.G. should

come to Canterbury, and has no wish to cause any unnecessary delays to the project,” Cr Cretney told the hearing. It simply wanted to ensure that any proposals were “thoroughly examined and tested” at the planning stage so that Lyttelton residents could be assured that the fuel would be brought to the borough. “in an acceptable, safe manner.” . The council was concerned that Liquigas, Ltd, had not fully investigated alternative berths, she said. It was also concerned about questions of safety. The area was close to

housing, and the proposed pipeline would pass through “intensively used” recreational areas. Sabotage or vandalism were possible. Cr Cretney said that the terrain and wind patterns at the port might exacerbate the effects of an accident, and that there would be difficulties in evacuating the borough in an emergency. The berthing of an L.P.G. tanker in the inner harbour would also affect the council’s Diamond Harbour ferry service, Cr Cretney told the hearing. The proposal had attracted “widespread apprehension” in the community, she said.