Diesel leak proves pricey for council

The diesel tank on Mt Ruapehu. Photo/Bevan Conley

The diesel leak on Mt Ruapehu last year cost the Ruapehu District Council $629,000 over the time of the spill.

That does not include staff time.

The costs covered all civil defence responses, public meetings, emergency water supplies/services, temporary showers and toilets, and the costs of cleaning/flushing/rebuilding the water treatment system and reticulated network.

Horizons Regional Council (HRC) cleaned up the diesel from the Makotuku Stream.

The leak from the 40,000-litre capacity tank at Turoa ski field, owned by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL), was discovered on September 27.

RAL chief executive Dave Mazey said there was 19,000 litres in the tank at the time it leaked into the Makotuku Stream which feeds Raetihi's water supply.

Over the weekend of October 5 and 6, the council removed close to 50 cubic metres of contaminated soil from Turoa, which prevented further contamination of the stream.

Following investigations, Horizons is prosecuting RAL based on breaches of the Resource Management Act.

Worksafe NZ have also laid charges against RAL; seven charges under the hazardous substances and new organisms act (HSNO), and one health and safety in employment (HSE).

The organisation will also bring eight HSNO and eight HSE charges against Petroleum Services Ltd, which designed and installed the plant.

The charges against both companies will be heard in the Taihape District Court on June 12.