A total of 100 Penrose businesses this year were visited by pollution prevention experts to assess and educate them of ways to prevent potential sources of pollution entering the harbour via stormwater drains.
The visits were part of the industrial pollution prevention programme, funded by Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, to help local businesses reduce impacts on the environment.
Following the visits, a total of 36 issues were identified and reported back to businesses with advice on how to resolve them. Concerns included:
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no spill plan
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poor storage
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washing cars and equipment with wash water draining into stormwater network
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sandblasting dust contaminating stormwater drain
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grease trap overflow.
Since receiving this information, businesses have made efforts to implement more environmentally friendly approaches with 64 per cent of problems resolved, and ongoing follow-up assessments.
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board chair Maria Meredith is pleased the programme is achieving results.
“The industrial pollution prevention programme is delivering significant results which will make an improvement to our beaches, biodiversity and the Manukau Harbour,” she says.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, the board invested $25,000 in the Industrial Pollution Prevention Programme and has recently committed another $30,000 for this financial year’s programme.
“Education on how the stormwater network operates, preventing contaminants entering the network and having a plan in the event of a chemical spill is key to making changes in our community – as everyone has a role to play,” says chair Meredith.
“A huge priority our community and the board has identified in the local board plan is to protect our environment. This means ensuring our waterways and land are healthy and thriving, and that we are resilient to impacts of climate change.
“With the Penrose industrial area being one of Auckland’s oldest and largest industrial areas, every effort to keep contaminants out of stormwater drains will make a difference,” she says.
To date, more than 4,500 Auckland businesses have participated in pollution prevention programmes.
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