Waimea Weekly
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Wednesday 31 August 2016
Who are you going to call?
Pages 16-17
Page 4
Tasman golfer aims for the top
Page 24
Richmond’s bad air day
Simon Bloomberg
Richmond’s air quality is under the microscope again after it was revealed last week that dangerously high concentrations of arsenic were recorded at a monitoring station at Oxford St between 2013 and 2015. The Tasman District Council reported that the annual average arsenic concentration
for 2014 in Richmond was 19 nanograms per cubic metre of air, almost four times the national guideline of 5.5. Analysis showed there had been a seasonal increase in arsenic concentrations from the burning of treated wood in domestic fires with occasional higher concentrations linked with an industrial source in the area readings peaked at 190.
Council resource scientist contaminants Paul Sheldon says it is extremely disappointing to find evidence of arsenic at such levels. Paul says arsenic, which is carcinogenic, was detected on a large sample of air filters which were tested retrospectively this year as part of the council’s air quality monitoring. Although Paul would not identify the in-
dustrial source, he says it resulted from “an industrial boiler burning treated wood waste”, including shavings and sawdust. Burning treated or painted timber is not permitted under the Tasman Resource Management Plan, because it releases toxic substances into the air and creates toxic
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Spotlight on outside security Simon Bloomberg Some of Waimea’s more vulnerable elderly residents are feeling a little safer at night thanks to an initiative by Waimea Neighbourhood Support and Community Patrols New Zealand aimed at installing security lights at 100 homes. Waimea Neighbourhood Support coordinator Marty Price has set up 148 street groups around the district since he started in Richmond in 2012. Marty has been concerned that some of the more vulnerable residents lack outside security lighting and this month decided to do something about it. “I was setting up a street group on Templemore Dr and a lady mentioned she had some things stolen from outside,” Marty says. “She didn’t have any outside security lighting so I decided to do something about it.
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NEW LIGHTS: Waimea Neighbourhood Support coordinator Marty Price, left, and Richmond Community Patrol’s Mike Gill with Templemore Dr residents, from left, Val Jones, Val Delaney and Peggy Jack with one of the new security lights that are being installed. Photo: Simon Bloomberg
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