Toxic dross still a threat at Old Paper Mill in Mataura

Gore's district mayor says putting a fire out at the Old Paper Mill in Mataura has not ended the danger of eight thousand tonnes of toxic waste. Yesterday, Fire and Emergency extinguished a blaze only 30 metres from a building used to store ouvea premix, a volatile by-product of the smelting process at Tiwai Point. Earlier this year, the alarm was raised when the building was threatened by rising river water, which could have led to ammonia gas being released. Authorities are being urged to to hurry up a promised removal of the highly toxic dross. Gore district mayor Tracy Hicks tells reporter Conan Young that the fire is out but only an immediate threat has been removed.