Government funding for Tui mine clean up welcomed

Waikato Regional Council has welcomed a Government announcement that it will contribute $15.2 million towards phase two of the Tui Mine remediation project at Te Aroha.

The announcement in Wellington today allocated funds for the remediation of the tailings impoundment site.

“This funding will enable phase two contracts to be let and for work to commence on sorting out the tailings impoundment site,” said council chairman Peter Buckley.

“We are very grateful the Government has agreed to put in the $15.2 million, which is a substantial investment in cleaning up the environmental effects of the old mine operation.

“By the time the project is completed, the aim is to have cut up to 90 per cent of the contaminants being released from the tailings and underground works into the Tui and Tunakohoia Streams.”

Waikato Regional Council is putting $1.1 million worth of staff time and $800,000 in cash into phase two, while Matamata Piako District Council (MPDC) is putting in about $50,000 in staff time and $200,000 in cash.

“The Tui remediation project represents a strong partnership between central and local government,” said Mr Buckley.

The phase two funding announcement comes on top of earlier central Government funding worth $5.5 million for phase one of the project, which involved underground remediation and investigation and design work. Waikato Regional Council contributed about $1.1 million worth of staff project management to that phase one work as well, while MPDC contributed another $50,000 worth of staff time.

The remediation project is due to be completed by December 2013.