Growing community concerns about the information being provided around the extent and effects of the water contamination at Ohakea has prompted Manawatu Mayor Helen Worboys to visit residents around the base.
"What I am hearing from our affected community members is that the information they are being provided with is inconsistent and unclear," says Mayor Worboys.
"In addition to water use, residents have concerns about the future of their farms, and are asking for further testing of the soil.
Those on untested neighbouring properties are also concerned.
"I am being told about headaches and illness in people.
About poor performing animals that seem to recover when not on the affected land."
Since then we have and will continue to provide technical information on groundwater and surface water to the New Zealand Defence Force and the Ministry for the Environment," says Mr McCartney.
"However, we still don’t know the full scope of the contamination and what the long term impact may be.
"Contamination events such as this not only creates public health concerns, they can have long term social-economic impacts.
"Until the investigation is complete it would be inappropriate for Horizons to comment further on the investigation or speculate about the possible outcomes," says Mr McCartney.