The Tasman District Council had a small WWTP serving a 7500–10500 population which swelled in Summer. 

The two sludge tanks at Carey’s Gully store sewage sludge pumped from the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant located about 10 kilometers away. Due to the age of the sludge, considerable quantities of corrosive hydrogen sulphide gas are released within the tanks. H2S concentrations over 50 ppm have been recorded, and resulted in severe corrosion to the concrete walls and concrete roof of these two tanks. 

Formaldehyde fumes released during the manufacture of particle board were causing complaints from neighbours.  This limited the production and expansion plans for the plant, and raised levels of formaldehyde in working areas of the plant.