Green light expected for toxic Nelson site

The site touted as the most toxic piece of land in the country is expected to be cleared for further use today with the release of a key report.

Following a $12 million four-year clean-up of the former Fruitgrowers Chemical (FCC) company site at Mapua, near Nelson, politicians and officials from the Ministry for the Environment will this afternoon attend a public meeting at which the report is expected to approve for development.

FCC built the pesticide plant at Mapua in 1932 and 13 years later began producing organochlorine pesticides, before closing it in 1988.

However, the clean-up process over the past four years has been blighted by claims that it was botched.

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Jan Wright said sealing over the contaminated soil might have been safer and cheaper than trying to dig it up and clean it.

Dioxins and other toxins may have been released into the area and copper also contaminated ground water and sediment in the nearby estuary during the treatment process.

Environment Minister and Nelson MP Nick Smith acknowledged that errors were made, but said he was determined the ministry would learn from the mistakes.

Today's report would confirm the extent to which the clean-up had been successful and "to let the people of Mapua get on with their lives," he said.

- NZPA