Site Contamination Register

The Site Contamination Register is an up to date inventory of properties where land use activities that may result in land contamination have occurred.  The Site Contamination Register contains:

  • Land that is known to be contaminated.
  • Land that is potentially contaminated on the basis of historic or current management practices.
  • Land that was previously contaminated but has been managed or remediated so as to be suitable for the current land use.

The Site Contamination Register is operated according to Ministry for the Environment guidelines.

By identifying sites where hazardous substances have been used, stored or disposed of, Council can ensure that land users make sure that the sites do not present a danger to workers, the community or the environment when they develop or use the site.  The Site Contamination Register allows Council to ensure that sensitive developments such as residential housing and schools are not built on contaminated sites.

A particular site gets on the Site Contamination Register when Council records or other public records show that the site has a past or present history of land use activity that is on the Ministry for the Environment’s Hazardous Activity or Industry List. This is a list of 53 land uses that involve the use, storage or disposal of significant quantities of hazardous substances.   Sites on the Site Contamination Register are then assigned to one of eight categories.

The Site Contamination Register is a live database and is continually updated as information comes to hand.  Please forward any information about potential contaminated sites or changes to existing sites to Council’s Resource Scientist – Contaminants.  Information can always be passed to the Council on a confidential basis if desired. 

For more information contact Jenny Easton - Resource Scientist (Contaminants), Tasman District Council.

Liability For Contamination

The property owner is liable for any contamination on the property, even if that contamination was caused by a previous landowner. The costs of the site assessment therefore rest with you. However, the Council may be able assist you in investigating and cleaning up contamination.

Access to the Site Contamination Register

The information held on the Site Contamination Register for a particular property is included in any Land Information Memorandum or Property Information Memorandum obtained for the property.  Enquiries about a specific site can also be made directly to Council’s Resource Scientist – Contaminants.

Amending the Details on the Site Contamination Register

The classification of a site is based on information from Council records. The amount and type of information available varies from site to site.  If additional information that shows the site was not used for the storage, use or disposal of hazardous substances, is or becomes available and can be verified, the details held on the Site Contamination Register can be amended.

Alternatively where a site has been competently investigated and, where appropriate, remediated its classification on the Site Contamination Register can be revised.  Guidelines on assessing contaminated sites are available.

A property listed on the Site Contamination Register does not necessarily require specific investigation of the site.  Site investigations are only required where:

  • There is a public health risk or harm to the environment as a consequence of contamination or likely contamination at the site.
  • There is change to the use of the land (e.g. from industrial to residential) – it will be necessary to provide a site contamination report as part of any consent applications to the Council.

You will be advised by the Council if an investigation is necessary.

For more information contact Jenny Easton - Resource Scientist (Contaminants), Tasman District Council.