People living in a small Southland settlement, Bluecliffs, have been told they must leave by Friday afternoon due to erosion. Bluecliffs, situated at the mouth of the Waiau River, is already in a state of emergency as the sea and river’s rapid erosion threatens homes. The six people who live there permanently are now being asked to evacuate. This is because work is starting to clear a nearby dump that could contain dangerous materials such as explosives and asbestos.
Lucy Hicks, the controller of Emergency Management Southland, said that a 1km radius around the dump will be cleared to ensure everyone’s safety. The clean-up work is set to start on Saturday and could take up to three weeks. Hicks emphasized that their main concern is the safety of the residents and workers.
Accommodation has been arranged for the Bluecliffs residents in Tuatapere. Hicks also said that they have a solid plan to handle any issues that might arise during the dump’s excavation. However, she admitted they do not know exactly what is in the dump and where. The goal is to clear the dump as erosion continues to approach, to reduce the risk of it entering the sea.
