Spill in Waimea Inlet

Thursday 9 September 2010

On Thursday evening, 9 September 2010, a blockage on the Nelson Regional Sewerage Scheme pipeline lead to an overflow of approximately 1,000 cubic metres. The discharge occurred over a three hour period from the pump station in Saxton Road into the Waimea Estuary, while Contractors tried to locate the fault.

The overflow has now stopped.

As a result, all bathing and shellfish gathering is banned in the Waimea Estuary, Rabbit Island and Tahunanui Beaches and the coastal margins along Rocks Road. The bathing ban is in effect until midnight Friday 10 September (approx 24 hours).

The Council reaffirms that shellfish should not be collected from these areas, or from the Nelson Harbour, as a permanent ban is in place.

The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board Public Health Service, Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Conversation, pollution control officials and local iwi have been notified of the spill.