Bankside Former WWII Fuel Bunker Remediation

This high profile project encompassed careful remediation of a Former World War II Fuel Bunker pit containing general rubbish, car bodies, banned pesticides and herbicides, and suspected UXO's (un-exploded ordinates). The site is located approximately 60kms south of Christchurch, just before the town of Rakaia. The 25m diameter x 10m deep pit had been an illegal dumping site for the last 40 years, and as a result the soil in the pit has become contaminated by pesticide and herbicide residues. Health, Safety and Environmental methodologies were prepared for each task to ensure all risks were appropriately completed for each separate phase to ensure any real or potential risks were avoided. All staff had to undertake hazardous material handling and wear protective clothing, forced air respirators and personal monitors. The air monitoring equipment around the site was the most comprehensive system ever used in NZ. This former WWII fuel bunker pit is the only one left out of 5 that were constructed during the second world war (over 97,000 bricks line the external wall), the site is therefore listed under Heritage protection, and it is envisaged that it will be open for visitors once works are complete.