Pollution fears as crashed car still in stream

The stationwagon that left State Highway 2 and plunged into Opato Stream in the Waioeka Gorge nearly two weeks ago is still there and has raised pollution concerns. Picture supplied

Eastern Fish and Game NZ has contacted the Bay of Plenty Regional Council about the removal of a stationwagon that plunged off State Highway 2 in the Waioeka Gorge and into the Opato Stream on January 14.

Two adults and four children were inside and they were all flown by rescue helicopter,  or driven by ambulance, to hospital in the Bay of Plenty.

Their stationwagon remains on its wheels in the stream and anglers have expressed concern about it still being there more than 10 days after the crash.

Opato Stream feeds into the Waioeka River.

“I know six people were in this accident, and I hope they are all OK, but how long does it take authorities to pull a car out of a pristine stream?” said a fly fisherman who had been there recently.

When contacted by The Gisborne Herald yesterday, Eastern Fish and Game senior fish and game officer Anthony van Dorp got in touch with the BoP Regional Council.

“I highlighted our pollution concerns. Hopefully, that is checked out by the council staff promptly and the vehicle gets removed from the stream to prevent any further pollution issues.”

The stationwagon is in the stream about a kilometre from the Gorge monument on the Gisborne side — two kilometres south of Wairata.

“We are concerned about any vehicles which crash into waterways, given the possibility of fuel and oil contamination and possible effects on aquatic life,” Mr van Dorp said.