Peel Forest

In 2019 the Rangitata River cut away at the southern bank beside the Peel Forest Closed Landfill exposing landfill contents, some of which fell to the riverbed some 25m below.

During 2021, mitigation works were carried out to moderate the river changes and prevent catastrophic failure, along with removing exposed waste and managing stormwater. This was only seen as a temporary solution, and Council agreed through the Annual Plan 2023/24 to the complete removal of waste from the landfill as the permanent solution.

In September 2024 Council was successful in securing funding through the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund for 50% of the works up to $6.055M.

Consents for remediation of the landfill were issued in January 2025 with a requirement that the management plans be made available on the applicant’s website.

Rooney Earthmoving Limited was appointed as the contractor to carry out the civil works.

Please see the plans below

Last updated: 23 Apr 2025