Rena update (update 114)

26 November 2011: 8.30am

Rena oil spill response teams involved in different types of foreshore cleaning operations are making good progress, says Maritime New Zealand (MNZ).

Dayne Maxwell, MNZ Planning Manager for the Rena response, said the method used for cleaning the foreshore depended on the type of marine environment and the most appropriate process to remove any oil.

“Cleaning operations can take the form of warm water washing, hand washing, hand collection, or mechanical grooming. Different approaches are being used for sandy beaches, rocky habitat and island foreshore areas, with the support of iwi liaison,” Mr Maxwell said.

Mechanical beach grooming using two vehicles has been carried out along the coastline from Leisure Island (Moturiki) to the Omanu Surf Club, a distance of more than four kilometres. The beach operations team are now moving towards Papamoa east and are picking up a large proportion of the remaining oil.

“Recent strong winds have exposed tar balls and patches of old oil from earlier swells above the high tide mark,” Mr Maxwell said.

“The oil we’re currently finding is between the sand dunes and the high tide mark and we’re working systematically to remove it.”

The total of solid waste so far removed from the coastline is 953 tonnes, with 1,331 m3 of liquid waste removed to date. The waste is being processed at a specially prepared site at Hampton Downs in the Waikato.

The Adopt-A-Beach programme complements the foreshore cleaning operations being led by MNZ and supported by local volunteers. Interested people should contact renavolunteers@gmail.com or call 0800 884 881 extn RENA (7362).

Members of the public are still asked to report any signs of fresh oiling on the beaches.