The Environment Court has stressed there will not be any public statements regarding ongoing attempts to remove ouvea premix from the Mataura Mill site, unless issued through the court.

Judge Lawrie Newhook hasnow issued seven statements to the media so far regarding progress in removing the hazardous substance.

In his latest minute yesterday (Thursday November 12) he confirmed he had conducted a follow-up confidential settlement conference to six earlier conferences between September 9 and October 20, but regretted that “finality has not been reached yet’’.

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A further complication had arisen in what has been a very complex situation he said.

“Having said that, constructive progress continues on all fronts for removal of the ouvea pre-mix from Mataura to an industrial site. Finalisation of the several necessary contracts is closer, considerable progress having been made in the last week,” Judge Newhook said.

He added that logistical arrangements for removing the material were “now in hand”.

Judge Newhook said the parties (these include the Environmental Defence Society, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd and the Minister for the Environment) remained “focussed on the urgency of the situation” and were acting constructively and with expedition. 

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He confirmed the parties’ goal was still to remove the material before Christmas, (“possibly weather-dependent”), subject to the remaining issues being finalised urgently.

“There is something I need to stress. As occurs in most courts, the type of proceeding I am leading is called a judicial settlement conference and is akin to mediation. Both are conducted in a confidential atmosphere to encourage openness and co-operation among parties and lead to cost-effective resolution of the proceedings . . . The reason that I have taken the most unusual step of releasing minutes to the media with the consent of the parties, is to allow the affected residents of Mataura to be made aware in an objective and neutral fashion about progress towards resolution of the problem on their doorstep. I have the agreement of the parties that there will be no further communications from them or from me than in this fashion,” Judge Newhook said.

The ouvea premix was left at the mill several years ago by Taha Pacific, a company now in liquidation. 

The Environmental Defence Society is seeking a declaration of responsibility for the material.