11 Sep 2014

School calls in air quality experts

4:42 pm on 11 September 2014

A Taranaki primary school about 600 metres away from a proposed oil well has engaged an independent specialist to review air quality assessments.

Norfolk School, which is just south of Inglewood, took the step after seeking the opinion of the Taranaki Medical Officer of Health Jonathan Jarman.

The school said Dr Jarman told them that despite regional council assurances about air quality, he felt uncomfortable a public health risk assessment had not been carried out.

School board chairman Karl Hitchcock said they then decided to get an independent air quality review to reassure the school community.

Canadian company Tag Oil aims to start drilling for oil in the area in 2015.