Commercial markets on toxic sites ring alarm bells

The Auckland Regional Council was last night accused of sleeping on the job by groups worried about pesticide residues in Auckland soils.

The Residents Action Movement, the Panmure Community Action Group and the Soil Contamination Action Movement made a joint presentation to the ARC after last year's dirty soil scare, which affected properties across the region.

They said their concerns had gone beyond people growing their own vegetables at home,

They were now worried about people using or playing in their gardens and people buying potentially contaminated goods grown commercially in gardens with a history of pesticide use, and sold in supermarkets.

"We have got no assurance that these vegetables are non-toxic," said Elaine West, of the Residents Action Movement.

"What we are concerned about is, while there is the delay in this, people are getting sick."

She said last year Auckland property owners were warned that the consumption of home-grown vegetables could affect health long-term.

If contaminated sites remained in commercial production they posed a much greater public safety and health risk to Aucklanders, she said.

The ARC must conduct full soil testing and clean up sites identified as being contaminated with pesticides, the groups said. They gave the ARC seven days to respond to their claims.

The council said it did not respond to deadlines but a report would be made to its environmental management committee.