29 Sep 2020

Harbour Bridge neighbour angry about contamination

From Morning Report, 6:37 am on 29 September 2020

An Auckland woman living near the Harbour Bridge is angry and shocked people were never told neighbouring land was contaminated with heavy metals from the bridge.

RNZ revealed the transport agency has known since 2010 its bridge maintenance polluted the Stokes Point Reserve with lead, zinc and copper.

The Transport Agency knew that Auckland Harbour Bridge operations had contaminated land next to houses at above permitted levels, but decided not to tell local people.

It found high and rising levels of lead, zinc and a cancer-causing hydrocarbon at the bridge's north end in 2010.

Jay Holloway is not happy they weren't told about the contamination, but also not surprised authorities didn't bother to tell them.

She and her husband Brian talked to RNZ reporter Jordan Bond about their reaction to finding out about the contamination.