The owners of the Hamilton coolstore that was destroyed by an explosion will have a fight on their hands with the locals if they try to rebuild.
The April 5 blast at Tamahere fatally injured Derek Lovell and injured seven other firemen.
The site was expected to be
cleared by the end of the week.
But Icepak spokesman Wayne Grattan said the company was still "weeks away" from a decision to rebuild, the Waikato Times reported.
"No, that decision hasn't been made ... that will be a few weeks away yet. We've been concentrating on the clean-up."
Tamahere resident Liz Witehira said plans to rebuild on the site would not go ahead without a fight. Residents were waiting to hear back from the Waikato District Council if it was possible.
"We're waiting for information on the legal process in regards to the resource consent and once we know that I suppose everyone will know what steps can or can't be taken.
"But we have already made it clear to (Icepak owner) Mr Jan Van Eden that it would be our position that Icepak is not rebuilt."
However, a smaller alternative business that was not a coolstore would be supported, she said.
"There's a lot of people in the community who feel Icepak was too large, posed a threat to the community, and that it generally shouldn't have been located so close to a school like that ... Our position is that business profits shouldn't supersede the safety of children."
- NZPA
