12. Question No. 12—EnvironmentGRANT McCALLUM (National—Northland) to the Minister for the EnvironmentQuestion No. 12—Environment12. GRANT McCALLUM (National—Northland) to the Minister for the Environment: What recent announcements has she made regarding the clean-up of old landfill sites?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS (Minister for the Environment): On Saturday I had the pleasure of announcing that the Government is granting $6.6 million to clean up four historic New Zealand landfill and dump sites which are vulnerable to extreme weather events and coastal erosion. The Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund grants will go towards fixing former landfills and dump sites.Grant McCallum: Why is it important that these sites are remediated?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: These sites are in low-lying coastal areas and near river margins leaving them at risk of being compromised by storm surges rainfall events high river levels and flooding. This funding will address the risk of the sites being breached by a natural event exposing waste materials and contaminating the surrounding land and waterways. Historic landfills can become a threat to communities and the environment through the effects of extreme weather events. The Government supports local government to deal with the legacy of land contaminated by past practices directing funds each year to sites considered regional priorities. This funding will help restore these contaminated sites so they no longer pose a risk to communities and the environment.Grant McCallum: What specific projects have been funded as a result of the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: Starting in Southland the Bluecliffs land site is situated on a former gravel pit located within Te Waewae Bay. Coastal tides and the Waiau River mouth flooding have eroded parts of the site and surrounding areas. That council has been granted $1.35 million for its remediation. The St Andrews Beach landfill project will focus on developing a remediation plan led by Environment Canterbury. They have been granted $135000 towards this planning project. Nelson City Council is leading a remediation project after sawdust contaminated with arsenic and other chemicals was exposed by erosion in a car park at Tāhunanui Beach in June 2023. That council has been granted $134000 towards the planning of this project. And finally Gisborne District Council is receiving $4.98 million to develop a remediation plan and carry out remediation works at the former Tokomaru Bay landfill. The retired land site area is susceptible to flooding—SPEAKER: Good—this is really good. What about you table it?Hon Penny Simmonds: Recent—SPEAKER: Sorry just that's it.Hon Penny Simmonds: Enough?SPEAKER: Yeah well and truly.Grant McCallum: What else is the Ministry for the Environment doing to help local communities with historic landfills?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: The ministry is now working with regional councils to refine the assessment tool and use it to evaluate landfills that have not yet been assessed. These assessments will help councils make decisions on how to manage the risk associated with the vulnerable landfills and contaminated sites such as reducing the level of contamination better containing the sites or removing the contents of landfills. I wish to thank the ministry and councils up and down the country for their continued work in this space.Hon Rachel Brooking: Will the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund be spared the 6.5 to 7.5 percent funding cuts?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: The remedial contamination fund will be used in the way that it's going to be best used to help the environmental and community outcomes of this country. The 6.5 to 7.5 is being concentrated as we have been asked to on the backroom functions not on the funding that we get out to the grassroots where the work is being done.