Oil Spill off Taranaki-Waking up to a Nightmare.

OMV oil spill off Taranaki - will it again wash up on Kapiti to Taranaki beaches?

Just three months ago, Frack Free Kapiti asked the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to not allow OMV consent to drill seven more wells off our coast because the risk was just too high. The EPA determined “the overall effect of the development drilling programme on the environment would be minor”* and allowed the Austrian company to go ahead.

Today we hear OMV have again spilt oil and Maritime NZ are investigating.

“I know it is hard for people to realize the dangers of oil development off our coasts, especially when Government and protection agencies are singing praises for the industry and down play the devastating effects just one spill can have. But, this is our second wake up call form the OMV operation. We can just pray this spill is small, because if it is substantial we will be waking up into a nightmare.

Frack Free Kapiti and beyond say in the light of this oil spill, all issuing of offshore drilling permits need to stop, at least until a credible impact assessment have been completed, kiwis have been consulted and a national policy statement has been developed.

OMV’s oil spill model suggests their oil will reach our coasts within 1-2 weeks of a spill.

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