Lines open for residents on soil issue

Auckland City has organised a hotline number and public meetings for residents concerned about historical horticultural use of their properties.

The hotline number is (09) 379 1346.

Public meetings for residents will also be held at: Avondale on Monday, 15 November at 7pm, Avondale College Theatre. The entrance is at gate 1, Victor Street, Avondale Glen Innes meeting on Wednesday 17 November at 7pm, Sacred Heart College Auditorium. Entry is at gate 1, 250 West Tamaki Rd, Glendowie.

Representatives of the Auckland Regional Council (ARC), Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) and Auckland City Council will be presenting information to the public and will be available to answer questions.

A mail out to affected property owners started today (Thursday 4 November).

Along with the ADHB, the ARC undertook a research project in 2001 to assess the extent of residual contamination in soils from past horticultural activity in the Auckland region. The study involved sampling 43 horticultural and agricultural sites in the Auckland region. Only one site within Auckland City’s boundaries was tested.

The study concluded that historic horticultural activity resulted in comparatively elevated levels of contaminants on approximately 45 per cent of the sites. The remainder of the sites showed acceptable levels.

Auckland City then undertook a desktop study to identify which properties in Auckland City may have been used in the past for horticultural purposes. Old aerial photographs of the city, taken in the 1940s and 1950s, were studied. This study found that properties of 4,872 residential owners may possibly be on land previously used for horticulture.

The city will note on those properties’ LIMs that they may be former horticultural sites and that there is no evidence that they are or are not contaminated.

In the period 1 November to 4 November (at 2pm), the council’s call centre received 224 calls on the issue.

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