L.P.G. tank for Fendalton backed

Press, 21 June 1984, Page 7

L.P.G. tank for Fendalton backed

Permission has been given by the Waimairi District Council for the installation of a liquefied petroleum gas storage tank in Fendalton.

An application to install and use the tank at Fendalton Service Station, 3 Memorial Avenue, was lodged with the council three months ago. The application went before a hearing sub-commit-tee on April 19, May 31, and June 6, but a unanimous decision was not reached. The outcome was two-to-one in favour of installation.

It was decided to put the case before the council to see if a unanimous decision could be reached.

At a council meeting last evening, consent was given to the application by seven votes to four, subject to several conditions. These included that the requirement of the Dangerous Goods

Regulations, 1980, be complied with; that the standards for fuel service stations be complied with; and that delivery tankers travelling to the installation refrain from using residential streets and deliveries be restricted to quiet business periods. Cr lan Calvert, chairman of the hearing sub-commit-tee, said that the nearest house to the tank would be 17 metres away, but the tank would only be 4.5 metres from the right of way.

Under the council’s District Scheme second review, the tank is required to be 50 metres from an adjoining residential zone. This “separation distance” would afford protection to neighbouring properties from the damage effects arising from a malfunction of the L.P.G. installation. Cr Calvert said the subcommittee had been unable to determine any scientific relationship between the 50metre separation distance and safety. Cr H. M Ta’t. who had the minority decision in the sub-committee, told the council that 4.5 metres compared with 50 metres showed a great degree of non-compliance. She said that one of the objectors, who lived in the house 17 metres from the tank, had expressed concern that there was no way he could get out of his house if there was a malfunction.

“Great weight should be given to Mr Mickell’s apprehension about evacuating his property,” she said. Cr Calvert said that if the tank did ignite, Mr Mickell would still be able to drive past because it was only when the tank boiled that a bleve (total explosion) would occur. Boiling point was at 2000 deg. C. and it would

take some time for it to get to that, he said. If it was a geriatric home, the sub-committee would have declined the application, but it was a matter of degree, said Cr Calvert.

Cr J. de C. Hanafin said that he thought the council would be setting a “very dangerous precedent” in a residential area. Compared with petrol, which was stored completely underground, it was dangerous. Cr Calvert said that anything the community wanted held a certain amount of danger. Skateworld A $5OOO loan from the council’s Local Recreation and Community Development Scheme has been granted to the Skateworld Roller Skating Club to help buy equipment. The loan is subject to the conditions that a new lease be available in Papanui and that the District Clerk is satisfied that the club has the ability to repay the loan.