Govt chips in $3m for cleanup
The junction of Awamoa Rd and the closed Beach Rd 3km south of Oamaru. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Waitaki district ratepayers have now had the burden of a multimillion-dollar environmental cleanup reduced by a total of $8 million, after the government stepped in to provide another big funding boost.
This week, the Waitaki District Council announced the government has provided $3m in grant funding to support the now completed Project Reclaim.
The project removed 67,000 tonnes of fly-tipped and oceanside landfill waste from three sites along the east Otago coastline in 2024, safely securing it 8km inland at a purpose-designed landfill cell near Palmerston.
At the time, the council did not qualify for the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund and was not considered for the additional grant funding provided in February 2024 for projects yet to take place.
However, a council media statement says "strong advocacy" from Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher to Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and the Ministry for the Environment resulted in Cabinet approval for the new $3m grant.
"We have taken decisive action to remedy past mistakes, led the way in preventing an environmental disaster, and ensured we got the best value for the ratepayer by advocating for both this grant, and the waste levy and emission trading scheme waivers."
Combined with the approved waivers of the waste levy ($4m) and emissions trading scheme ($1.4m), earlier this year, the overall cost of the project has fallen from $18m to less than $10m.
Project Reclaim was an environmental cleanup of historic dump and illegal fly-tipping sites.
The resulting holes left from digging up the road to extract 19,000 tonnes of old refuse left the erosion-prone road unusable, and it has been closed since November last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Deadline to comply with Healthy Homes rules looms
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Dunedin renters are living in cold, damp and mouldy houses. PHOTO: ODT FILES Time is running out for rental properties to comply with Healthy Homes rules. By July 1, all tenancies need to meet the rules. But what can you do if you're living in one that has not been brought up to standard? What are the Healthy Homes standards, anyway? The rules set basic standards for heating, insulation and ventilation. PHOTO: ODT FILES They have been introduced in stages, but from next Tuesday, every rental property needs to comply. Landlords need to provide one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat a home's main living room. These need to meet the minimum heating capacity. Properties need to be insulated in the ceiling and under the floor, unless the design of the home makes this impossible. Every liveable area needs a window or door that opens to the outdoors and can be fixed open. Kitchens and bathrooms need extractor fans. PHOTO: ODT FILES But what if your home doesn't meet these rules? All rental properties also need efficient drainage, guttering and downpipes and any gaps or holes need to be blocked. If you are reading through that list and thinking the place you're renting is not up to standard, there are a few things you can do. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment head of tenancy Kat Watson said tenants could start by talking to their landlords or property managers and checking for a Healthy Homes compliance statement in their tenancy agreements. If that does not solve the problem, they could then give their landlords written notice asking them to fix the issues. Tenants can give landlords a 14-day notice to resolve, requiring action on specific things. PHOTO: ODT FILES What if that doesn't work? If you have no luck with these steps, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for help. "An adjudicator can make decisions such as issuing a work order for the landlord to bring the property up to standard, order compensation to be paid for failing to do so in the first place or award damages to be paid by the landlord for not meeting minimum standards for rental properties," Ms Watson said. "For serious or repeated breaches — especially those affecting vulnerable individuals — you can contact the tenancy compliance and investigations team. "Tenancy Services' website has great resources for first-time tenants, to help them understand what to expect and what to look for when moving into a rental home, particularly for those renting for the first time. Tenants are responsible for keeping a rental property reasonably clean and tidy." By Susan Edmunbds
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Hunting contest to support St John's
Joy Campbell. PHOTO: ODT FILES About 170 hunters from across New Zealand will gather in Cromwell for a hunting competition, with proceeds from entries going to thank Cromwell St John's for their hard work. Cromwell Hunting Competition organiser Joy Campbell said this was the first time she organised such a contest. "I got involved because my kids are into hunting and it's also a great way to raise money for the emergency services" Entries from the competition, as well as contributions from the Cromwell Town and Country Club and Coffee and Equipment Cromwell, would go towards a top-of-the-line coffee machine for Cromwell St John's after the hard few months the first responders had been through, she said. The organisation was close to her heart, as she was a volunteer for St John's herself. The competition would begin at 5am on Thursday with categories for adults, juniors 13-16 years old and 12 and under, she said. Adults could enter deer and pigs, as well other animals in the miscellaneous section. The top adult prize was $1000 from Flat Line Concrete for best pig jaw. The junior age bracket could also enter deer and pigs as well as goats, the top prizes being $500. The 12 and under bracket would be able to enter possums, rats, rabbits and hares for judging, with three prizes of $200 for the heaviest possum, rabbit or rat, she said. The hunt would end at the weigh-in which would begin at 12pm on Sunday, held at the Cromwell Town and Country Club. The weigh-in was expected to be a lively event, with a live band on hand to provide entertainment, Mr Whippy, a coffee cart and lots of prizes. One of the spot prizes available for the adults was a thermal monocular, she said.
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Govt chips in $3m for cleanup
The junction of Awamoa Rd and the closed Beach Rd 3km south of Oamaru. PHOTO: ODT FILES Waitaki district ratepayers have now had the burden of a multimillion-dollar environmental cleanup reduced by a total of $8 million, after the government stepped in to provide another big funding boost. This week, the Waitaki District Council announced the government has provided $3m in grant funding to support the now completed Project Reclaim. The project removed 67,000 tonnes of fly-tipped and oceanside landfill waste from three sites along the east Otago coastline in 2024, safely securing it 8km inland at a purpose-designed landfill cell near Palmerston. At the time, the council did not qualify for the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund and was not considered for the additional grant funding provided in February 2024 for projects yet to take place. However, a council media statement says "strong advocacy" from Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher to Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and the Ministry for the Environment resulted in Cabinet approval for the new $3m grant. "We have taken decisive action to remedy past mistakes, led the way in preventing an environmental disaster, and ensured we got the best value for the ratepayer by advocating for both this grant, and the waste levy and emission trading scheme waivers." Combined with the approved waivers of the waste levy ($4m) and emissions trading scheme ($1.4m), earlier this year, the overall cost of the project has fallen from $18m to less than $10m. Project Reclaim was an environmental cleanup of historic dump and illegal fly-tipping sites. The resulting holes left from digging up the road to extract 19,000 tonnes of old refuse left the erosion-prone road unusable, and it has been closed since November last year.
