Update on Removal of Amberley Tyre Stockpile

Source: Environment Canterbury

Environment Canterbury is working closely with Hurunui District Council to ensure the removal of a tyre stockpile at 122 Racecourse Road, Amberley. To keep the community up-to-date on progress, we will be providing regular updates here.

Environment Canterbury has commenced discussions with the landowner of 122 Racecourse Road on how to address the tyre stockpile located at the property.

North Canterbury zone delivery manager Andrew Arps said that the approach so far has been to try and make those involved in this issue address the risk posed by the tyres to the community and the environment.

“To date, our focus has been on pursuing the companies responsible for stockpiling the tyres, who have been under a court order to remove them. Unfortunately, their actions in doing so have been inadequate,” said Arps.

“We understand this is a difficult situation for the landowner who is also a victim of the poor behaviour by the companies involved, and their failure to abide by the terms of the court order.

“The landowner has worked closely with us throughout this process and has already taken responsibility for the remediation of the contaminated material at the site that resulted from the fire in February 2018."

Environment Canterbury recently undertook a survey of the tyre stockpile in order to get a more accurate estimate of the number of remaining tyres.

“We now believe the number of tyres remaining in the stockpile to be around 450,000. The plans being developed to address the stockpile will use this new estimate – considerably greater than the 120,000 estimate previously submitted to the court by the companies involved,” said Arps.

“We are continuing to investigate our options for further action against these companies."