Auckland city mayor Dick Hubbard has stepped in to ensure residents know whether their properties could contain dangerous levels of DDT, arsenic, lead and copper from horticultural sprays.
Monday, November 1st 2004, 7:23AM
by The Landlord
Mr Hubbard last night promised to release the areas where 1155 affected properties were picked up in a study, and to send individual letters advising property-owners of the health risks.
This followed a fresh attempt by officers yesterday to hide the list of worst-affected suburbs and let the city's 134,000 property-owners wait for up to a week to find out if their homes are in the clear.
Many properties are known to be in Panmure, Otahuhu, Onehunga and Avondale, where market gardens once flourished.
Mr Hubbard said the list would be released on Monday. A few matters had to be sorted out, such as the health risks, before letters were sent to affected property-owners next week.
