Through out the district there are a number of sites which have become contaminated as a result of the manufacture, use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances. Assessment of sites throughout the District which have been associated with hazardous substances has been undertaken. This has resulted in the identification of sites with known levels of contamination. The contaminated sites within the Gisborne district are identified on the Urban and Rural planning maps and listed in Appendix 15. Identification of sites in the Gisborne district which are contaminated is an ongoing exercise. Additional sites which are verified as contaminated sites will be identified as such through a plan change process.
Contaminated sites are those sites where hazardous substances occur at concentrations above background levels and where assessment indicates it poses or could potentially pose an immediate or long-term hazard to human health or to the environment. Contaminated sites may cause actual or potential harm to human health or the environment when the contaminant on the site becomes exposed to an organism or natural or physical resource which is sensitive to the adverse effects of the contaminant. Exposure to contaminants may occur on the site of contamination and/or as a result of contamination being discharged off the site.
