April 2019
It has been a busy few months on the Kopeopeo Canal Remediation Project and this newsletter provides a short update on dredging progress to date, moving to the new containment site, recent community meetings and how to find out more.
In this update:
- From the Project Manager
- From the Chair of the Community Liaison Group
- Care needed near Keepa Road
- Pedestrian Access
- Work of the Cultural Monitor
- Compliance
- Discharge pipe
- Local Hero
From the Project Manager
Following a pause in dredging over the December and January period, dredging is back underway on lower section of the Project area, down towards the wetlands. Work paused to allow plant and machinery to move to the second containment site off Keepa Road. This marks a significant milestone - more than half of the 5km length of the canal to be cleaned by the Project had now been completed.
The contractor, EnviroWaste Services Limited, has started using an improved dredge head and a few tweaks have been needed at the start of the year as we get up to speed, but dredging in the Canal section from Whakatāne’s wastewater ponds towards Keepa Rd is now well underway.
Dredging has been slower than we anticipated as our focus continues to be safe removal and transfer of the contaminated sediment into sealed geotube bags at the containment sites. We now expect dredging to continue until around the middle of the year. Following that, there will be considerable follow up work to cover the geotube bags at the containment sites and ongoing civil works (cover material, tree planting, adding inoculated material and reinstatement) to get bioremediation going. For that reason we expect that the Keepa Road containment site will continue to allow pedestrian-access only until early next year. We will continue to keep the community informed and up to date on progress.
From the Chair of the Community Liaison Group
The February CLG meeting was a busy one and the meeting minutes are now available on the website. As usual, these minutes are considered draft until they are confirmed at the next Meeting.
For those who missed the meeting, the presentations are also available on the website and there are some useful graphics and diagrams to show progress. There was some interesting discussion at the meeting about the dioxin levels in each of the geobags at Containment Site 1 and validation test results.
A ‘Tech Talk’ is tentatively planned for at the next CLG on Tuesday 14 May to help better understand the differences between validation testing, sampling and chemical validation. We look forward to seeing a good turnout for this.
Care needed near Keepa Road
In February, dredging re-started and the sediment is now being transferred to Containment Site 3, located on the riverbank near Keepa Road.
The Keepa Road carpark is a popular public-access spot, particularly for dog walkers and cyclists. With the additional truck movements and site activity in the area, we are asking that people are extra cautious around the Keepa Road bridge site entrance and keep a careful lookout for vehicles.
Pedestrian access around Containment Site 3
We have completed a tidy-up of the Pedestrian access alongside Containment Site 3 and it continues to be a well-used path.
There has been some public discussion about pedestrian access alongside the Keepa Road Containment Site and at this stage pedestrian access only is likely to continue through until at least early next year.
We understand that it is frustrating for some whitebaiters but appreciate the community support through this process. The end result of the short-term frustration will be a healthier (and fishable) Canal for future generations.
Recent non-human mamal bones and Karakia before works recommenced
Work of the Cultural Monitor
The Project employs a cultural monitor to provide advice on cultural matters and to ensure that any cultural finds are managed in accordance with the Ngāti Awa protocol for dealing with koiwi or taonga.
We follow a strict process for dealing with any finds in the sediment, although it is worth noting that most finds are old coins and animal bones. Our consultant archaeologist is informed and strict procedure followed. If you would like to know more about this interesting aspect of the Project, come along to the next CLG meeting and have a chat with our Cultural Monitor, Eula Toko.
Compliance
Given the proximity to a number of residences and businesses, we are keeping careful track of noise associated with the works including the boost pump on the Canal bank near Kope Canal Road which will operate for a relatively short time.
We have also had a few of complaints about dust coming from Kope Canal Road opposite Gateway drive. The mobile dust monitor has been placed close to the boost pump and dust levels are being continuously monitored to ensure they stay below compliance requirements (to date they have been). Whakatāne District Council staff accessing the oxidation ponds and project contractors have been asked to keep speeds down on that road to reduce dust as much as possible.
And finally, a recent compliance check means that Containment Site 3 is fully compliant and there were some useful suggestions on dealing with the oversize material.
Chair recognised
It has also been a busy year for the Chair of the Community Liaison Group, John Pullar.
You may remember John was a TVNZ Good Sort last year. He also received a Kiwibank Local Hero medal for his outstanding contribution to our community. He was a finalist in the Herald’s People’s Choice awards for New Zealander of the Year and received the Queens Service Medal in the New Year’s Honours List. Well done John! We are very fortunate to have you as the Chair of our community group and we appreciate your hard work for the community. Congratulations.
