Ruakaka residents unaware how close gas pipeline was

The broken pipe is causing chaos in Marsden Point Rd. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Critical damage to a major fuel line at Ruakaka has shocked many nearby residents who were unaware they were living so close to the pipeline.

The smell of fuel was unmistakable on the blustery wind as heavy vehicles travelled to and from the site just off Marsden Point Rd yesterday.The jet fuel leak about 8km along the 170km pipe to Wiri was found at 2.30pm on Thursday and since then locals have watched the flurry of activity on the farmland as teams repair the damaged section.

Two horses grazed in a nearby paddock and were not worried about the large digger only 100m away, surrounded by workers in fluoro orange jackets.

One Marsden Point Rd resident, who did not want to be named, said RefiningNZ had failed to inform locals of the leak on Thursday when it was probably at the most dangerous because of the large amount of gas.

He said it was nearly 24 hours later, on Friday, that they were informed of the leak and what was being done to fix it.

"They really dropped the ball by not letting everyone living close by know as soon as possible. I noticed the pungent smell and then half an hour later there were two fire trucks and a cordon," he said.

"Then there was truck after truck going down to that paddock and I knew it was a fuel leak."

Another neighbour Danelle Martin said although there was plenty of activity in the paddocks on Thursday, it was not until Friday a person from RefiningNZ explained what had happened and offered to evacuate them.

"They offered to move us to a motel but I've got too many animals so we stayed."

She said the gas smell was worse at night when the air was still.

"They apologised for not telling us sooner."

Another resident Joyce, who didn't want her last name used, said it was a shock to learn how close the pipeline was to her house.

"Of course if you're a land owner you would know where the pipe was on your property but for the rest of us who are neighbours we aren't aware. It's much closer than I thought."

Others residents found out more about the spill of up to 80,000 litres of jet fuel in a flyer RefiningNZ put in letter boxes.

The one-page letter signed by RefiningNZ communication manager Greg McNeill, dated Saturday, said dams in a key culvert will make sure the fuel does not leave the site.

"We have health and safety teams monitoring the area and again we reassure you that there is no danger to you or your family's health," the letter said.

"We continue to remove jet fuel, particularly from the culvert and this is one of the reasons for the truck traffic to and from the site. The other reason is that we need to bring metal to the site to make sure our heavy equipment (diggers, fuel trucks) do not get stuck in the soft peat soil."

It also said: "We are also very mindful of the noise we are making, particularly at night, so we are trying to keep this to a minimum. We will keep you posted on developments as we go."

McNeill did not respond to calls from the Northern Advocate yesterday.

Luke Puru of Bridgestone Tyres on State Highway 1, said he had been watching with interest the activity in the paddocks across the road from the business.

"People have been stopping and taking photos,"he said.

"It's been a big hiccup to stop the country's biggest airport. I didn't even know the pipe was that close."

Bream Bay College principal Wayne Buckland said RefiningNZ had been keeping the school updated with what was happening.