Exclusive: Owner of Northland property where fuel pipeline ruptured says he didn't cause the damage

October 26, 2017

Lynton McMullen owns the Ruakaka land where the incident happened, and rejects any suggestion he damaged the pipeline.

The owner of the Northland property where a crucial fuel pipeline ruptured last month, spilling thousands of litres of jet fuel and causing major flight delays and cancellations, has told 1 NEWS he didn't damage the pipe.

Lynton McMullen confirmed he was the owner of the Ruakaka property three years ago when it's believed a digger damaged the underground pipe, leaving it in a weakened state.

Last month the pipeline, which carries nine million litres of petrol and jet fuel each day from the Marsden Point refinery to Wiri in South Auckland, ruptured, spilling 80,000 litres of jet fuel.

Northland Regional Council is investigating the incident but hasn't confirmed the identity of the digger driver. 

If found guilty, the person who caused the damage could face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $300,000.

Speaking with 1 NEWS, Mr McMullen said he had never dug in the area of the pipeline and declined to comment on how the pipe was damaged.

The owner of the pipeline, Refining NZ, is continuing with repair work but it's not expected to be running at full capacity until next year.

The company told 1 NEWS it's too early to say whether it will seek to recover its costs, which could amount to millions of dollars.

The incoming Minister for Energy and Resources, Dr Megan Woods, says she will be talking with officials as a matter of urgency and will consider setting up an independent inquiry to examine the resilience of the fuel supply network.

"What it has shown is a vulnerability and a lack of resilience in that piece of infrastructure," Dr Woods said.

"We need to ensure that we don't get in that situation again."

By Tarek Bazley

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