Mataura Dross Removal Making Good Progress
A visit to the Mataura Paper Mill by Terry Nicholas (Hokonui Rūnanga Representative/Office of Upoko) and Shaun Lewis (Director of Waste and Resource Efficiency, Ministry for the
Graffiti on the old paper mill, Mataura. Photo: Dianne Manson/Getty Images. Environment) on Friday 16 April, confirmed good progress being made to remove 8000 tonnes of aluminium ouvea premix/dross from the flood prone site. It will be consolidated back to Tiwai Point with other hazardous materials.
The deal to move the material was supported through the Office of Upoko’s involvement in closure negotiations from November 2020 – February 2021 with the Crown and Rio Tinto.
Years of community advocacy and then Environment Court oversight following legal action brought by the Environmental Defence Society helped to broker a deal to ensure the materials were finally removed.
Terry Nicholas commended the pressure placed on New Zealand Aluminium Smelter and local and central government to take action to remove this dangerous material back to where it originated.
“This is only a temporary solution. More work needs to be done to deal with the materials that are kept in landfill at the Tiwai site”.
Posted: 16 April 2021