Auckland City Council: Questions and answers on contaminated land

Q. How many properties may be affected?

A. There are 4,872 individual homes potentially affected.
Homeowners will receive a letter from Auckland City this week.

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Q. Why has the number gone up?

A. The previously quoted figure of 1,172 referred to initial areas that had been identified from the desktop study. The new figure represents continuing analysis of potentially affected sites as a work in progress. Many sites have multiple properties and therefore multiple owners.

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Q. When will the letter be sent out?

A. The letter will be sent to affected property owners this week. Property owners will be advised to inform tenants in their properties.

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Q. When will the information be put on LIMs?

A. The information will be on LIMs within several weeks. Putting this information on LIMs is a complex and time-consuming process.

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Q. What will the letter say?

A. The letter will outline the historical and regional background to the issue, will address the health concerns of the property owners and will provide practical advice on what property owners can do to have their property tested.

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Q. Will the council pay for testing of private properties?

A. No. This is the responsibility of the individual property owners. The council has undertaken testing of the 17 parks and reserves that were identified by a desktop study as having possible past horticultural use. These tests found that 12 were clear and five had pesticide residues. One of these parks has already been remediated. The residues were found in areas that are inaccessible to the public or where recreational activity is unlikely.

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Q. How much will it cost owners to test their properties?

A. One core sample costs around $225. The average property would require 3 samples to be taken.

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Q. What happens if a property proves clear after being tested?

A. This will need to be communicated to council staff with the laboratory results. The flag will then be removed from the LIM.

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Q. What happens if a property is contaminated?

A. Property owners will be given a timeframe to remediate the site in accordance with the usual practise.

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Q. What if a property is flagged with possible horticultural use and the owner wants to develop the property?

A. If the property owner wishes to develop a property that is flagged with possible horticultural use, it is the owner's responsibility to undertake testing.

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Q. How can the public find out more information?

A. The Auckland Regional Council's report, which was the initial study on potentially contaminated sites, is to be made available on www.arc.govt.nz. Information about public health should be addressed to the Auckland District Health Board on 638 9909.