Gasworks demolished

PHOTOS: HAMISH MACLEAN/DANIEL BIRCHFIELD
PHOTOS: HAMISH MACLEAN/DANIEL BIRCHFIELD
Nothing remains on the site of the former Oamaru gasworks building in Humber St after demolition work was completed early this week.

The owner of the site, KiwiRail, confirmed last week the building would be torn down.

The Department of Conservation is working closely with KiwiRail, the Otago Regional Council and the Waitaki District Council to investigate the historic contamination of the site, where the gas-making facility operated between 1876 and 1980.

A regional council regulatory committee agenda from January listed the site as one of four in the region where ongoing work to address the effects of legacy contamination was required.

It said site investigation took place in 1998, and in 2000 about 45cu m of contaminated material was removed.

However, significant contamination remained on site.

Erosion along the foreshore affected the stability of the site, which exposed additional contaminants.

Add a Comment