The huge co-ordinated clean-up of rubbish-strewn South Westland beaches starts properly today, with helicopters and volunteers ready to strike south of the Waiho (Waiau) River.
The old buried Fox Glacier rubbish dump was scoured out last week by the flooded Fox River. The rubbish was washed into the Cook River and then carried down to the sea.
Okarito resident Mike Bilodeau, who is leading the volunteer clean-up effort, met with local councils on Tuesday.
He said they now thought the root of the problem was bigger than anticipated and were trying to access government funding to help.
"There are currently massive trucks carrying diggers down here that can cross the Waiho easily and will be attacking the issue at the (Fox Glacier) dump. They're projecting 11 to 12 days to have the dump contained, if the weather stays on our side."
Helicopters will be ready to take people to remote beaches on either side of the Waiho today, to start the rubbish collection.
"We have bags, fadges, and heaps of volunteers," Mr Bilodeau said.
A large number of people were expected in Okarito today to help.
"Those of you south of the Waiho, will have to wait for our assistance with the clean-up until Thursday."
After eight day, frustration is growing.
Glacier tourist operators and West Coast Conservation Board members issued a statement and said the Westland District Council response had been inadequate and needed to be scaled up as a matter of urgency.
"The on-the-ground response in South Westland is almost entirely comprised of volunteers - these volunteers are in urgent need of professional help, support and leadership.
"There is considerable anecdotal evidence that the remote beaches to the south of the Fox/Weheka River have been significantly impacted by landfill waste and will require a massive effort to clean up."
The statement was compiled by the conservation board acting chairman Dr Keith Morfett, of Hokitika, with the assistance of two other conservation board members Barry Hughes and Dr Jonathon Clearwater, both Okarito residents.
Mr Bilodeau said yesterday he appreciated people's frustrations.
In a statement, the Westland District Council said the eroded area of the dump was being lined with geo cloth and the riverbank filled in with rock.
- By Laura Mills
