The New Zealand Government will contribute $4.2 million to meet half the costs of the remedial works required to clean-up the Calwell Slipway site at Port Nelson, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.
“The Nelson Haven is at risk from the years of historic contamination from copper and tributyltin used in the boat-building industry around the Calwell Slipway,” Mr Smith said.
“The benefit of this clean-up is protecting the Nelson Haven habitat for migratory wading birds and public recreation.
“The clean-up is also important for jobs and the Port Company to enable the slipway to continue to undertake repair and maintenance of boats and pave the way for expanding dock space. The clean-up is a joint project between the Nelson City Council and Port Nelson, with Government support.”
The clean-up project involves stabilizing the sediments in cement to form mudcrete so they are contained and cannot pollute the Haven.
The work is expected to take eight months and will cost $8.3 million.
[mappress mapid=”22482″]