Two years since Rena: No signs of oil on beaches

The beach as it looks today after two years since the oil hit the Bay.

Two years since the Rena grounded, Tauranga beaches appear to have recovered with no recent signs of tar spots.

But what's brewing below the surface and the long-term effects of the grounding are subjects of research and monitoring, and next month a series of scientific environmental impact reports are expected to be made public.

Speaking from Wisconsin, University of Waikato Professor Chris Battershill said a range of impact research projects had been conducted during the past 20 months.

The Tauranga-based professor said once peer reviewed, the reports would be released to the Environment Ministry, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and other key stakeholders, including iwi, before being released to the public.

Research showed local beaches and most of the off-shore islands from Waihi to the Bay of Plenty's East Cape had recovered "extremely well" because of the massive clean-up efforts.

Although that was great news, he said some areas were still subject to intensive monitoring, including Astrolabe Reef and around the wreck.

Prof Battershill is leading an Environment Ministry-funded study into eco-toxicity, including research on the mixture of Corexit and oil in this country's sea temperatures.

The study was due to take at least 18 months, he said.

Corexit dispersants were used during the clean-up and sprayed on deep water about 20km off the coast of Tauranga in days following the October 2011 grounding.

Prof Battershill is in Wisconsin for a week-long World Environmental Restoration Symposium.

He is one of the keynote speakers talking about environmental recovery from pollutants in oceans and seas, including sharing his research into the Rena oil spill.

Rena Recovery Programme manager Warwick Murray said although tar spots were occasionally being exposed after a storm, it had been weeks since there had been the need for a major clean-up.

Hundreds of people hit the Mount Main Beach and Papamoa Beach yesterday, and there were no signs of oil or the troublesome beads which earlier washed ashore.

Papamoa Beach resident Kathleen Andreae said that three weeks ago she had to snip off bits of tar from her pet's fur, but the beach had been clear of oil and little beads since.

"I hope this means we're finally seeing the last of it [oil].

"It's taken a long time to recover and I hope it's a sign we're going to have an oil-free, fabulous summer."

RENA BY THE NUMBERS:

• About 234 tonnes of oil spilled from the Rena.

• 350 tonnes of oiled sand recovered from beaches.

• 1368 containers were on-board Rena.

• 1039 containers so far recovered.

• 124.28 tonnes of container debris removed from cargo holds.

• 1,263 tonnes of steel removed from the bow.

• 743.5 tonnes of debris removed from reef (includes container-based debris)

Source: Rena's insurer