The recent funding commitment from the Government to help clean up a contaminated site in Bluff was celebrated down South.
Early this week, Environment Minister David Parker announced funding to clean up six contaminated sites around the country, including Ocean Beach site — a former landfill in Bluff.
He said the $2.08 million funding from the contaminated sites remediation fund would be bolstered by $1.55 million from project partners, for a total of $3.63 million across the projects.
However, Department of Conservation (Doc) Southland operations manager John McCarroll said only $177,500 of that amount had been designated to Ocean Beach.
"News of government funding to clean up six contaminated sites in NZ, including Ocean Beach landfill near Bluff, is exciting."
The $177,500 which was designated for Ocean Beach would go towards future planning for full site remediation. The planning was already under way, he said.
The total cost of the Ocean Beach project was estimated to be $422,900.
Landowners had already invested significant funds into a major clean-up project of the beach area by specialist asbestos removal experts, Mr McCarroll said.
"These experts are conducting monthly inspections and clearing material released from the landfill."
Environment Southland had tasked Invercargill City Council and Doc with working to reduce coastal erosion as interim site management, while the remediation plan was being finalised, he said.
Environment Southland integrated catchment management general manager Paul Hulse also welcomed the news.
“We’re very pleased that funding has been provided ... to support the project at Ocean Beach.
"The remediation of the site is important, not only for the surrounding coastal environment, but also to reduce the risk to public health from those who swim and gather kaimoana [seafood] there."
The Invercargill City Council was approached by the Otago Daily Times for comment but did not reply by deadline.
