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“With the coronavirus pandemic raging through much of 2020, we knew we would receive some exceptional entries, but we’ve been astounded by some of the things we have learned about the people of Gwent,” he said. “It’s been a distressing year and it’s heartening to see how so many have rallied round to help others.” He also paid tribute to people who have given their time and energy over many years to help make Gwent a better place. “The city of Newport and our towns and villages are full of unsung heroes,” he said. “We hope the Pride of Gwent Awards will shine a light on some of them.” ....
The toxic waste sits in drums on the Ruakaka property Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly The waste, which has sat at a property in Ruakaka for three years, includes a range of chemicals, some of which are flammable and some which are toxic to aquatic life. The first stage of the clean up is expected to cost $3 million. The waste is 110 metres away from electricity lines which power the oil refinery at Marsden Point and 80m from the pipeline which carries petrol, diesel and jet fuel to Auckland. The township of Ruakaka is 2km away. Following the two-year-long first stage of the clean up, a second stage, involving testing the soil for contamination and remediating the site, will be needed. The cost of this has yet to be estimated. ....
The chemicals were illegally stockpiled by companies, including property owner Sustainable Solvents Group, who intended to distil and recycle solvents used in engineering, dry cleaning, printing and painting. About 1 million litres were never distilled and have remained in rusting, leaking drums for several years while officials tried to get the companies to deal with the mess. Last year Whangārei District Council obtained an interim enforcement order which allowed it to clean up the site and bill the owners. The costs were being covered by the Ministry for the Environment, WorkSafe, Northland Regional Council and Whangārei District Council. The bill is three times more than the last big chemical clean-up undertaken by government agencies, after an electroplating company in Timaru stockpiled 90,000 litres of toxic chemicals. ....
Clean-up of toxic site in Northland to cost more than $3m 21 Jan, 2021 05:00 PM 5 minutes to read Imran Ali is a reporter for the Northern [email protected] Taxpayers may pick up the tab towards cleaning a site containing hazardous waste in Northland that experts estimate will cost more than $3 million after owners failed to take responsibility for the mess. Whangārei District Council (WDC), Northland Regional Council, WorkSafe, Ministry of Environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency are sharing the cost of cleaning up the site at Allis Bloy Pl in Ruakākā where about 800,000 litres of chemicals and 400,000 litres of bund water are stored. ....