Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:620;Page:15798] 
10.  
JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: Were any dioxin contaminated sites inundated by the recent floods in Whakatane; if so does she have a list of those sites and an action plan for clean-up? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 I am advised that the floods affected several sites around Whakatane that contain contaminated wood waste but Environment Bay of Plenty as the regional council responsible for the area ascertained that only one site risked losing the contaminated wood waste and the soil cap was replaced to prevent that. Environment Bay of Plenty will have information on all the sites affected. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Is the Minister aware that when the town centre was sandbagged to prevent flood water from the river entering the town centre that flood water—which came across the Matatua Park contaminated site—was diverted into residential areas potentially poisoning people’s living rooms and gardens? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I think the member is asking me whether I am aware that the floodwaters crossed over the Matatua site. Yes I am aware. But I have also been assured by Environment Bay of Plenty that there was only one site that actually risked losing wood waste. If the member is talking about going through underneath the cap that is a different matter. 
Janet Mackey 
: What is the Government doing to clean up the contaminated sites? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: We have set up a Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund to assist in the clean-up of contaminated land within New Zealand. The Ministry for the Environment is already working closely on remediating partnerships with seven regional councils on 13 separate projects—two of which are marae sites in the Whakatane area. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: When will the Government make funding available for the identification and isolation of all contaminated sites and the production of a national register so that future extreme events—whether they are earthquakes floods or storm surges—can be rapidly followed by well-informed clean-ups? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: The clean-up and remediation of contaminated sites is an ongoing process. We will work through those contaminated sites that have been registered with the regional councils which are the appropriate bodies to deal with in a flood or earthquake emergency. 
Janet Mackey 
: How does the Government determine funding assistance for contaminated sites? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: We will give priority to sites that pose or are likely to pose a high risk to human health sites that are located in environmentally or culturally sensitive areas—and that may include flood plains—or sites where the landowners do not have the financial resources to undertake the work required but want to do something about the problem. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Will the properties contaminated by flood water be tested for dioxins given the Minister’s agreement that one site may have lost some contaminated wood waste and associated dioxin; and what support is the Minister giving to Environment Bay of Plenty for that dioxin monitoring? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: The Ministry for the Environment through the Contaminated Site Remediation Fund has already funded Environment Bay of Plenty for the investigations around two of those sites. If another site has become a danger as a result of the floods I would appreciate receiving a request from Environment Bay of Plenty.