MEDIA RELEASE

New trailers aid quick clean up of pollution

For immediate release: Monday 17 November 2003

Environment Bay of Plenty can now wipe up pollution spills more quickly in Tauranga and Rotorua.

The regional council keeps the bulk of its pollution response gear at its main base in Whakatane. However, a rise in fuel tanker traffic has prompted it to put together mini-trailers of equipment that will be stored elsewhere in the region.

The two new trailers will reduce response time to less than an hour in Rotorua and the western Bay of Plenty, says principal compliance officer Andy Bruere. “It means we can get to work more quickly to clean things up,” he says.

Mr Bruere says more fuel tankers than ever before are travelling the region’s roads. Over 90 tankers leave Mount Maunganui daily “so there is a greater risk of crashes that can spill chemicals into lakes, harbours or rivers”.

Several of Rotorua’s lakes are right next to well-travelled routes, including state highways. If tankers crashed while crossing bridges, they could contaminate the waterway underneath.

Environment Bay of Plenty works closely with the fire service, police, health officials and district councils to prepare for and deal with spills of hazardous substances. The regional council’s role is to contain and clean up any spilled material. It also handles general environmental issues. It trains for this work with staff from the region’s district councils.

The trailers contain equipment like inflation booms, absorbent peat and spades.

ENDS

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