Chemical incident in industrial area of Penrose, South Auckland
Approximately 5,000 litres of methyl methacrylate was released from storage at a specialist chemical business on Industrial Road in Penrose earlier today.
Auckland Council staff, including environmental health and pollution experts, have been at the scene since it was reported. They are working with Fire and Emergency NZ, and have been consulting with Auckland Regional Public Health.
Auckland Regional Public Health Service’s Medical Officer of Health Dr David Sinclair says although the health risk is currently assessed as low, people should take a precautionary approach and close doors and windows if they can smell the chemical. The main potential health effects are eye, skin or respiratory irritation.
“If you work in this industrial zone you may also need to keep doors and windows closed tomorrow too.
“If you have any further concerns, please contact Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice,” Dr Sinclair says.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.3% Yes
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15% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
What is happening to our services?
Hi Neighbours
I'm concerned as to the level of services in our city, while our rates keep going up!
A short while ago we had 3 bins damaged in 1 rubbish-day pick-up. It took close to 6 weeks to resolve and I had to repeatedly follow-up progress as the case was closed 2x without any action - one of those instances stated they "couldn't find the bins" but they had never moved from the kerb side they are collected from since they got damaged.
Similarly I reported a small water leak on 1-Aug to Watercare just outside our property, on council land. I heard nothing back and the stream of water running grew and grew. I followed it up last week, only to be told it had been thoroughly investigated and it was not a Watercare issue. If I wanted to resolve it, I could pay a plumber. Yesterday I saw the water reader and said to him the running water is a problem - he agreed. I re-reported it and today it is being fixed - by Watercare - as it is gushing. They repairers assured me it is for sure a Watercare issue.
What can we do about this? We don't pay faulty money - but we get faulty service. It's not good enough.