Update from Judge about ouvea pre-mix removal

Minute released by Alternate Environment Judge Newhook

Judge’s minute about Environmental Defence Society's court proceedings concerning ouvea premix removal at Mataura

10 December 2020

[1] After a period of intense activity and an enormous amount of work by the parties, which is being reviewed every few days by the Court, I can again report on progress.

[2] The problems encountered in recent weeks are complex but not, in my current assessment, intractable.

[3] I am therefore hopeful for commencement soon of accelerated removal of ouvea pre-mix from Mataura for placing in containers suitable for safe and secure storage of the product pending its disposal overseas.

[4] As will be apparent, this will obviously not be concluded by Christmas as previously hoped.