An agreement on where to move Mataura’s hazardous smelter dross is weeks, rather than months, away, Clutha-Southland’s MP claims.
But Hamish Walker’s comments have been brushed aside by a spokesman for Minister for the Environment David Parker, who said Mr Walker "wouldn’t know what was happening".
The saga of the ouvea premix, currently stored in the Mataura paper mill, has sparked community anger and a political firestorm since major flooding highlighted the issue earlier this month.
When combined with water, the compound can generate poisonous ammonia gas.
Almost 10,000 tonnes of the smelter dross, a by-product from Tiwai Point smelter, was dumped at the site in 2014 by Taha, which was under contract to New Zealand Aluminium Smelter to provide a zero-waste solution for the substance.
A handshake deal had been made, but Rio Tinto’s board then turned it down.
Mr Walker yesterday said negotiations between Rio Tinto and the Ministry for the Environment over the removal of the dross had been going "extremely well" over the past fortnight.
"We’re really, really close to getting an outcome," he said.
"The timeframe is weeks as opposed to months."
He criticised "finger-pointing" over the issue in recent weeks, including at a heated public meeting attended by hundreds of people.
"All parties need to work together to get an outcome."
When approached for comment, Mr Parker’s spokesman said Mr Walker "has had no part in the talks, and he wouldn’t know what was happening".
"He is just trying to get into the story."
Mr Parker had received legal advice about the dross issue and was reviewing it.
Another southern MP has launched a petition calling for the immediate removal of the material.
About 100 people gathered at the Mataura Bridge yesterday afternoon as New Zealand First list MP Mark Patterson started the push for signatures.
The aim was to keep pressure on those negotiating, and to keep the issue in the public eye, he said.
“At a community meeting last week where there was only standing room left in the hall, angry locals spoke with one voice," he said.
“Working in with the community, I will be facilitating the launch of a petition for the removal of the dross immediately,” he said.
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Are you saying Mr. Parker that Mr. Walker isn't allowed to use his position as an MP to represent the concerns of his electorate who have been placed in a dangerous position through no fault of their own? Shame on you.
Cannot believe they got resource consent to store this beside a river that has flooded before and inundated this area, Seems to be 2 sets a rules for getting resource consent. Must have had a money incentive ??