Environment Court judge Lawrie Newhook has set an October 30 deadline for a final report from the parties involved in the New Zealand Environmental Defence Society case against New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, regarding storage of ouvea premix at Mataura Mill.

Interested parties include the Minister for the Environment, Environment Southland and the Gore District Council.

The parties have been attending regular Environment Court mediation conferences for several weeks, trying to find an acceptable alternative storage site for the fertilizer product abandoned at the mill by the owner Taha Pacific (in liquidation).

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Mataura locals have protested about keeping the hazardous product at the mill, which has been threatened by floods and a fire this year.

Judge Newhook said on Friday October 16 that excellent progress was being made on moving the ouvea premix to an industrial site.

“I have set the next judicial settlement conference for Friday 30 October hopefully to receive a report on finality. The parties remain focused on the urgency of the situation and are acting constructively and with expedition. Their expectation is the accelerated removal from Matuara will be commencing in the first week of November. It could conceivable be completed by Christmas, but will be weather-dependent.”

The parties have been ordered not to discuss the mediation in the meantime.