Massive pile of earth on Auckland property could collapse, risking explosion

Thursday, 29 August 2024

A massive pile of earth dumped on an Auckland property is at risk of collapsing onto neighbouring properties.

Huge pile of earth, concrete, metal and debris has been deposited on a property in East Tamaki.

The pile has spilled onto the former Greenmount Landfill and is blocking a gas well.

Auckland Council says there is a risk of explosion because gases cannot be monitored and it has obtained an enforcement order stopping all work at the site.

A massive pile of earth dumped on an Auckland property is at risk of collapsing onto neighbouring properties and may cause an explosion because it’s blocking a gas well.

The property is behind a Mobil service station and a car dealer, both of which could be affected if the pile collapses.

The pile, which is about 8 metres high and consists of an estimated 30,000 cubic metres of earth, concrete, metal and debris has been deposited on a property on Smales Road, East Tamaki.

The pile came to the attention of Auckland Council in October last year.

The massive pile is at risk of collapsing onto neighbouring properties.

The property is behind a Mobil service station and a car dealer, both of which could be affected if the pile collapses, which the council says poses a potential health and safety risk to pedestrians.

The property is owned by New Zealand New Oak Property Ltd, and is used by Eco Earth NZ Ltd, a recycled aggregate business.

Also neighbouring the property is the former Greenmount Landfill, which closed in 2005, but is still producing gas, which is used to produce electricity.

Of major concern to the council is that work on the property has caused material to cover some of the gas migration probes on the former landfill site, meaning the landfill operator can’t access its migration well network, so can’t monitor for dangerous levels of gases in that part of the landfill.

The potential risks include an explosion, and possible health and safety consequences as a result of contaminants from damage to gas lines and/or the landfill cap.

These concerns prompted the council to seek an interim Enforcement Order from the Environment Court requiring Eco Earth and its director Gareth Williams to immediately cease all works on site, including earthworks and all importation of fill onto the site.

The order was also sought against the landowner New Zealand New Oak Property Ltd.

The application was heard by Environment Court Judge Melinda Dickey this month. Williams opposed the application.

In a recent decision, in which she granted the application, Dickey noted various failures and breaches to the Auckland Unitary Plan, and the fact that there were no resource consents granted for the activity.

The council has applied for a full enforcement order which was to be heard by the court at a later date.