Awatoto industrial area cordoned off after contaminant testing

Cylone Gabrielle flooding has resulted in a chemical soup washing over the industrial zone and nearby residential area.

Awatoto. Photo: Florence Charvin

This article was first published at Bay Buzz on March 14, 2023.

Preliminary testing has revealed a slew of chemicals including “significant biological hazards” in the Awatoto region of Napier, an industrial area hit extremely hard by flooding last month, a statement from Napier City Council last Tuesday said.

About 20 businesses are based in the affected area including a Ravensdown superphosphate factory, wool scourers, an animal rendering facility, and the Napier wastewater plant, which was damaged in the flood resulting in a spill. There are also some residential homes in the vicinity.

The area had been cordoned off and manned by guards. Napier City Council is working with the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee chaired by Fire and Emergency New Zealand, which advised in a report for the cordon to be put in place to ensure the public could not gain access.

BayBuzz requested the report from FENZ but has been referred to the National Emergency Management Agency.

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