New $30 Million Fund to Address Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills

“Many areas in New Zealand face legacy issues from past practices, with hundreds of contaminated sites posing risks that could worsen with weather events,” Simmonds explained.

A newly established $30 million Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund will assist councils and landowners in cleaning up historic landfills and contaminated areas vulnerable to severe weather, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds announced.

"This fund, part of our Q4 Action Plan, boosts the Government's commitment to helping councils and landowners share the cost of remediating vulnerable landfills and contaminated sites before they become environmental hazards," said Ms Simmonds.

Replacing the previous Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund, the new initiative expands the scope of supported projects, such as the cleanup at Nelson's Tāhunanui Beach, where sawdust used as a landfill in the 1960s has caused historic contamination.

"Many areas in New Zealand face legacy issues from past practices, with hundreds of contaminated sites posing risks that could worsen with weather events," Simmonds explained. The Government has already allocated over $12 million for similar projects, including more than $3 million toward the final stage of the Tāhunanui Beach cleanup.

Other funded projects include the Little Tahiti Landfill in Milford Sound, Ocean Beach Landfill near Bluff, Te Raekaihau Point Landfill near Wellington, and Peel Forest Landfill in Timaru. Planning support is also provided for the Kettle Park Landfill remediation in Dunedin.

Councils can now apply for funding on behalf of landowners, with the Ministry for the Environment offering assistance throughout the application process. "This fund allows us to proactively tackle these environmental risks and protect New Zealand's natural beauty for future generations," Simmonds concluded.