Walkway still closed after nine months

There is still no indication of when a contaminated Timaru coastal walkway, closed for more than nine months, will reopen.

The area, which runs along the seaward side of the Alliance Smithfield freezing works, has been closed to the public since February following the discovery of asbestos.

Environment Canterbury South Canterbury manager Justin McLauchlan said the landowner, the Alliance Group, had undertaken preliminary and detailed site investigations and obtained a coastal engineering report to support the development of a remediation plan.

‘‘Although these have taken time to complete, they provide the information required so that remediation can be done effectively,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s important information to have because the pathway is exposed to erosion, big seas, and high winds.

‘‘The asbestos-containing building materials that surfaced on the coastal pathway were likely used as infill many years ago.

‘‘Unfortunately, these legacy issues are not uncommon. At some stage someone buried this material and now the elements have exposed it,’’ McLauchlan said.

‘‘When this happens, landowners find themselves responsible for cleaning up a decades-old mess.

‘‘In this case the Alliance Group is responsible for developing a remediation plan, and they will also be responsible for physical works required for remediation.’’

Smithfield plant manager Karen Morris said Alliance was looking at options for remediation and ‘‘we expect to complete this in the first quarter of 2020’’.

‘‘We recognise the community has been patient throughout this process, but we do need to take the time to ensure we identify the right remediation option for this site.

Morris said Alliance was looking at a long-term process so that it ‘‘can have some confidence going forward’’.