Soil fears cause for concern but not panic

A parent and child enter Ferndale Kindergarten in Mt Albert, which is to be tested for soil contamination. Picture / Greg Bowker

Parents arriving with their children at two preschool facilities in Mt Albert yesterday were more curious than worried about toxic chemicals in contaminated soil.

"What I have heard to date is of concern and I would like some information about what is happening," said Sarah Richardson, who was dropping off 5-year-old son Jamie at Ferndale Kindergarten.

The kindergarten is one of three preschools still suspected of being sited on land contaminated with toxic chemicals and is to be tested this week. The results are due next week.

The other two sites are Mt Albert Playcentre in Phyllis St and the Onehunga Playcentre in Hill St.

The Auckland City Council has already tested five other preschools. Two have been cleaned up, two are about to be made safe and test results are expected back today at the Freemans Bay Community Centre.

Parents last week withdrew 30 children from the Auckland Central Playcentre in Freemans Bay after tests revealed the presence of a toxic chemical, benzo-a-pyrene, at levels up to 17 times higher than that considered safe in Environment Ministry guidelines.

At Ferndale, David George, who was dropping off his daughter Anneka, 4, and another parent, who did not want to be named, were not concerned about the health risks at this stage and were happy to wait for the test results.

At the Mt Albert Playcentre, parents were also seeking answers. One said the children had been "hoeing into feijoas" from a tree in the grounds.

Maria Ikinofo, who has taken her seven children to the playcentre over an 11-year period, said an email had been circulated telling parents that the council would be testing the soil.

She said her children had shown none of the symptoms associated with excess levels of benzo-a-pyrene, such as respiratory upsets and skin and eye irritation. Ms Ikinofo still has three children at the playcentre aged from 10 months to four years.

"We have got several fruit trees [at the playcentre] and the kids are always eating from them," she said.

Auckland Kindergarten Association general manager Tanya Harvey said the council had told her that of the eight preschool facilities, Ferndale Kindergarten was a low priority for testing. There had been horticultural activity adjacent to the reserve where the kindergarten was located.

"I don't think it's a real worry. Everyone seems healthy and happy here. We have got amazing parents and they have taken the cue from us that there is no need to worry at this stage," Ms Harvey said.

The council has organised a meeting for parents at 7.30 tonight at the Freemans Bay Community Centre so council staff and an occupational and safety medical officer, Dr Tim Sprott, can explain the health issues and screening procedures for their children.

Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker, who will chair the meeting, said it was predominantly for parents of children attending the Auckland Central Playcentre in Freemans Bay but he would be flexible about parents from other preschools attending. The meeting would be closed to the media at the request of parents from the playcentre.

The council yesterday released details of the activities that sparked an investigation into the eight preschool sites, ranging from motor vehicle and industrial use to being located near old rubbish tips and former horticultural land.

The sites are part of a council soil testing programme prompted by an Auckland Regional Council research project in 2001 on former horticultural land in response to foreign studies which found levels of DDT, arsenic, copper and lead exceeding health protection levels.

The testing has identified 185 potentially contaminated sites on council-owned land ranging from parks to carparks. Priority has been given to testing suspected preschool sites.

CHILDCARE CONTAMINATION: THE CAUSES

* Auckland Central Playcentre, Freemans Bay - soil believed to have come from Beaumont St gasworks 30 years ago for building work.

* Community hall play area, Ramsgate St, Ellerslie - former vehicle depot.

* Ferndale Kindergarten, Mt Albert - located near former horticultural land.

* Freemans Bay Community Centre - motor engineering workshop in vicinity 1958-1968.

* Learning at the Point community kindergarten, Pt Chevalier - automotive rewinder shop on site until 1990.

* Mt Albert Playcentre, Phyllis St - located near closed rubbish tip.

* Mt Wellington Playcentre, Vic Cowen Park - evidence of unauthorised fill activity in another section of the park.

* Onehunga Playcentre, Hill St - adjacent to a former house with a separate garage and laundry.