Temporary shellfish ban lifted in Nelson

The Nelson City Council has lifted a ban on collecting shellfish put in place after 4000cu m of raw sewage was pumped into Waimea Inlet.

Technical services manager Alec Louverdis said public health officials had advised the council that it was safe to lift the temporary ban on collecting shellfish between Moutere Bluff and the Glen.

Health protection officer Matt Molloy said seven days was enough time for the effluent to have been diluted by tides, for UV rays to have killed pathogens, and for any toxins to have worked their way through the shellfish.

The sewage spill happened on December 3, when a new pipe connection failed. The spill closed Tahunanui Beach, Monaco Peninsula and the Waimea Estuary to swimmers for two days.