Harbour ward grapples with oil outlook
BP's proposed fuel storage extensions at the Seaview terminal is riling locals on a number of fronts with concerns about the sites future ability to deal with natural disasters. BP is seeking approval to build seven new storage tanks at Seaview in order to boost local supply and manage the unloading of fuel more efficiently. The new tanks will sit beside existing ones and a wind turbine is expected as an addition. The East Harbour Environmental Association chairperson Felicity Rashbrooke says the construction will increase traffic issues for the harbour and is not suitably placed to handle natural disasters. ?There are a number of environmental issues with contamination of BP containers and discharge into the sea. ?There is the issue of the site dealing with heavy rainfall, and if the pumps are able to cope with storm water,? says Mrs Rashbrooke. BP says the increased storage capacity will mean fewer tankers visiting the dock, as some tankers presently have to make repeat visits because of insufficient storage capacity. The consent applications BP has lodged with the Hutt City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council contain a large amount of technical data relating to the site and the risk of earthquakes, tsunamis and the impact on the aquifer. Mrs Rashbrooke considers storing more oil in an area vulnerable to disasters such as sea-level rise, tsunamis and earthquakes as malignant. ?The problem with these disasters is what will happen at a site with so many chemicals; they will be washed out to sea,? she says. The area is zoned 'Special Business Zone' which allows for the storage of hazardous goods. The tanks will be designed to cope with a large earthquake, and the application includes plans for a wind turbine that would provide a third of the electricity to the site. Following the announcement that Shell won?t supply fuel in New Zealand, BP is looking to bolster their supplies in the region.
