The major project to remove the waste from the closed Peel Forest Landfill and protect the Rangitata River has broken ground and is making great progress with 10,686 tonnes removed as of July 11.

The equivalent to 342 truck and trailer loads of waste has already been removed from the site and taken to the controlled Council landfill at Redruth as part of the Peel Forest Closed Landfill Remediation project

The $12 million budget for the project is being 50 per cent funded from the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Site and Vulnerable Landfills Fund. Rooney Earthmoving was awarded the contract to undertake the work on behalf of Council following a competitive tender process.

Group Manager Infrastructure, Andrew Dixon said that this project is important to ensure the Rangitata River is protected from contamination with the high risk of the river breaching the closed landfill.

“Like similar sites throughout the country it was important that we ensured that erosion at the edge of the site didn’t allow rubbish to enter the environment.

“It has been estimated that there will be around 45,000 tonnes of waste moved to Redruth to complete the remediation project,” he said.

The Rangitata River which is adjacent to this landfill has been identified as Land of National Significance and a Site of Special Wildlife Significance.

Council have partnered with iwi due to importance of the Rangitata River to them, as the river was a critical travel route for Ngāi Tahu, connecting them to the West Coast and was an important source of mahinga kai (food).

The Rangitata it is one of the largest braided rivers in Canterbury and supports threatened species such as the wrybill, black fronted tern, Caspian tern, and black billed gull, as well as being an important habitat for indigenous fish species.

“Once the site has been cleared, we will do minor landscaping and let the land return to a natural state,” Dixon said.

“Having to deal with legacy landfill issues underlines the importance of the council and community working together to minimise the amount that goes into landfill in the future through our green waste and recycling streams.”

Aerial view of the Rangitata River, with Peel Forest Landfill on the right hand side.