Sewage risk to mussels

Twenty Golden Bay mussel farms have been forced to stop harvesting after 30 cu m of raw sewage and stormwater spilled into the Aorere River, 12km southwest of Collingwood.

The Tasman District Council warned people to stop collecting shellfish between Milnthorpe and Pakawau after the spill on Thursday.

Mussel farmer and contract harvester John Solly said the possible contamination meant harvesting had to stop immediately and might not resume for up to two weeks.

It was the third sewage spill within 12 months and affected 20 farms.



Council engineering manager Peter Thomson said the warning was only a precaution. The spill happened when a pumping station could not cope with heavy rain and overflowed.

- NZPA