The Queenstown Lakes District Council will try to recover $3850 from the Australians for illegally dumping fuel from their van behind a Wanaka service station on Sunday night.
However, despite media statements issued by the QLDC yesterday, which condemned the group's "violation of the environment", the council has left the contaminated site untouched for four days.
QLDC harbourmaster Marty Black said the Australians made a "toxic mistake," when they self-filled their diesel van with petrol during a late-night stop on Sunday.
Once they realised their mistake, they moved their van to the rear of the BP service station on Ardmore St and dumped a full tank of fuel.
"The perpetrators then used some highly toxic anti-freeze to flush the tank," he said.
Video surveillance cameras had filmed the group's actions.
Soil from the contaminated site should be dug up and removed by contractors today, Mr Black said when contacted yesterday.
There was little visible evidence that a large amount of fuel and anti-freeze was dumped behind the service station when the Otago Daily Times visited the contaminated site.
Heavy rainfall on Tuesday had washed away most of the spill, and the rest had soaked into the ground, a service station employee, who declined to be named, said.
He claimed the council had "dithered" over cleaning the site because of cost.
However, Mr Black said the council had not been able to find the required "appropriate specialised cartage" to immediately treat the contaminated site.
The group of four Australian males has since been traced by Wanaka police and Lakes Environmental district inspector Daryl Taylor.
An instant fine of $750 was issued to the group and costs associated with a $3100 clean-up bill would also be enforced, Mr Black said.
Toxic spills have the potential to leach into the ground and make their way to springs and waterways.
"Acts that violated the environment - and in this case in such close proximity to iconic Lake Wanaka - beggared belief," Mr Black said in a QLDC media release.
