Arch Hill Reserve

Remediation work

Part of Arch Hill Reserve in Grey Lynn has been landscaped with nearly 700 native plants. The planting followed a three-week clean up of an area of the reserve when the council removed buried asbestos-based roofing material, found while upgrading a walkway.

The material appeared to have been historically dumped on the slope. Until it was discovered by the council, the material had been embedded in the slope and covered by soil and wild vegetation. As such, there would have been no significant asbestos fibre exposure risk as the material was undisturbed.

The council fenced-off the affected area and placed secure barrier matting over the material as soon as it was identified to prevent any potential fibres from spreading. The barrier matting was checked twice daily to ensure it was intact and weekly air monitoring detected no evidence of fibre release.

Investigations assessing the stability of the affected slope showed there was a possible risk of the slope collapsing. Therefore, the work involved removing contaminated soil, and then anchoring a specialised retaining barrier over the upper slope. The slope was then landscaped with the native plants.

Updated August 2008