Ministry to assess Mapua report recommendations

Media release: 28 July 2008

The Ministry for the Environment today welcomed the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s finding that the main purpose of the contaminated site clean-up at Mapua has been achieved, and the site is no longer a danger for the surrounding community.

“The goal was to transform a wasteland full of buried dangerous chemicals into a site suitable for community spaces and housing. To have confirmation the goal is within sight now is pleasing,” said Fiona Morgan, the Ministry’s general manager Corporate and Community.

The Ministry funded the majority of the clean-up, on land owned by Tasman District Council, and took over the project part way through in 2004 when the previously appointed project manager pulled out.

“The Ministry will review the PCE report and take action where necessary. The Ministry’s focus, as recommended by the PCE, is to finish the validation report – which may take several months of analysis – so an independent site auditor can assess the project as soon as possible,” Fiona Morgan said.

“A clean-up of such severe contamination in a residential area will always provide major obstacles. Disruption to residents nearest the hazardous legacy abandoned by the Fruitgrowers Chemical Company was inevitable, but minimised where possible.”

Fiona Morgan says the Ministry handled some obstacles well. The PCE has identified others which it believes the Ministry could have handled better. These areas may provide lessons for future clean-up projects of this size, she says.

“It’s important not to lose sight of reality. Even though there is evidence life is returning to the poisoned estuary nearby, the site – both on land and in the estuary – is never going to be as pristine as before the decades of pesticide manufacturing took place.

“The site will require some ongoing management, but that is to be expected with contaminated areas of this size,” she said.

Fiona Morgan says the full picture of the clean-up of what was rated the worst contaminated site in New Zealand cannot be assessed until the final site audit is complete – and pending reports by the local medical officer of health, and Department of Labour, and the final PCE report are published.

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Media contact:
Lester Thorley, Media Advisor,
Ministry for the Environment – Manatū Mō Te Taiao
Phone: 04 439 7569