Managing contaminated land

Areas across Waitaha/Canterbury have been identified as having had potentially contaminating land uses in the past, a process that is on-going. This might include sites where certain hazardous chemicals had been extensively used in the past such as pesticides or herbicides, ex-landfill sites or old industrial sites where soils could contain hazardous chemical residues.

When we identify this land, we write to property owners to provide information on how this potentially affects the way the land can be used and their responsibilities for managing contaminants in order to protect human health.

Drivers for change

• Central government on assessing and managing contaminants in soil to protect human health.
• What we know about the current state of the environment, including land that is included on the Listed Land Use Register.
• Increased risks due to climate change, such as flooding of contaminated areas or wind-borne dust during periods of drought.
• The need to ensure the management of contaminated land works well alongside other waste management strategies.

What we heard

• Continue to identify land that was contaminated in the past and take steps to contain it that protect human health.
• Harsher penalties for people that contaminate land or waterways.

What we can influence

• We can set stronger controls where high-risk activities are proposed for sensitive locations, so that land use has less of an impact on air and water quality.
• We can require, enable or encourage priority actions that reduce the potential spread of contaminants from high-risk legacy sites (sites that are contaminated due to activities in the past).
• We can assist with better education on risks and best-management practices.