Timbo
2nd November 2004, 05:39 AM
Auckland residents wait for poisoned property maps
02 November 2004
Letters and maps pinpointing the locations of more than 1000 Auckland properties potentially contaminated by dangerous levels of DDT, arsenic, lead and copper will be sent out to anxious residents tomorrow.
The letters will explain how up to 6000 hectares of land may have been contaminated by past horticultural activity and how the remains from various herbicides, fungicides and insecticides now exceed guidelines for the protection of human health and environment.
An Auckland paper understands the letters will also advise property owners that they will need to arrange their own soil tests if they wish to confirm whether their property is affected.
Anxious property owners have been waiting to learn exactly where the sites are since last week when the Herald published information about the soil contamination.
The council has been criticised for not earlier releasing details of the contaminated sites - which were identified in a study completed two months ago.
Mayor Dick Hubbard said he would reveal the locations of the 1155 affected properties yesterday however that was postponed at the last minute because detailed maps were had not been completed in time.
The maps will identify horticultural sites in the 1940s, overlaid with a map of the developed areas surrounding the horticultural sites.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThese areas will indicate potentially affected sites. Many are expected to be in Avondale, Panmure, Otahuhu and Onehunga where market gardens flourished before urban sprawl.
Mr Hubbard's announcement of the sites will instead be made at a media briefing tomorrow and the letters mailed out to affected owners after that.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said she contacted the city council today to see if her Otahuhu home was affected but she was told she would have to wait a month for the letters to be sent to out.
She is angry at the misinformation and at being told she would have to pay for a soil test, which is understood to cost at least $1000, to find out for sure.
"They (the council) are the ones claiming it, the onus should be on them to prove it."
Those who are affected, or do not pay to find out, may face reduced property values when they go to sell in the future.
02 November 2004
Letters and maps pinpointing the locations of more than 1000 Auckland properties potentially contaminated by dangerous levels of DDT, arsenic, lead and copper will be sent out to anxious residents tomorrow.
The letters will explain how up to 6000 hectares of land may have been contaminated by past horticultural activity and how the remains from various herbicides, fungicides and insecticides now exceed guidelines for the protection of human health and environment.
An Auckland paper understands the letters will also advise property owners that they will need to arrange their own soil tests if they wish to confirm whether their property is affected.
Anxious property owners have been waiting to learn exactly where the sites are since last week when the Herald published information about the soil contamination.
The council has been criticised for not earlier releasing details of the contaminated sites - which were identified in a study completed two months ago.
Mayor Dick Hubbard said he would reveal the locations of the 1155 affected properties yesterday however that was postponed at the last minute because detailed maps were had not been completed in time.
The maps will identify horticultural sites in the 1940s, overlaid with a map of the developed areas surrounding the horticultural sites.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThese areas will indicate potentially affected sites. Many are expected to be in Avondale, Panmure, Otahuhu and Onehunga where market gardens flourished before urban sprawl.
Mr Hubbard's announcement of the sites will instead be made at a media briefing tomorrow and the letters mailed out to affected owners after that.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said she contacted the city council today to see if her Otahuhu home was affected but she was told she would have to wait a month for the letters to be sent to out.
She is angry at the misinformation and at being told she would have to pay for a soil test, which is understood to cost at least $1000, to find out for sure.
"They (the council) are the ones claiming it, the onus should be on them to prove it."
Those who are affected, or do not pay to find out, may face reduced property values when they go to sell in the future.