High winds lifted panels on a coolstore at Fonterra’s Clandeboye plant near Timaru tonight, setting off the sprinkler system.
Clandeboye operations manager Steve McKnight said flashings were ripped off one of the coolstores and several cladding panels were loosened although they did not come off.
The panel damage triggered the sprinkler system in the cool store. Mr McKnight said cheese or butter would have been stored in the building.
It was unclear tonight how much material had been affected, but Mr McKnight said if it was butter that had been water damaged, it could be reprocessed into other product.
He said it was unlikely anyone would have been in the coolstore when the winds hit.
Source: Stuff