Joint Erosion Control Project for Peel Forest Landfill on Rangitata River

This is a joint project between Environment Canterbury Regional Council (ECAN) and the Timaru District Council (TDC) to manage the erosion risk at the Peel Forest closed landfill located on the right bank of the Rangitata River. These works are a temporary measure to reduce the risk of landfill material being eroded into the river whilst a long term plan for the management of the closed landfill is developed.

This project is being part-funded through the central government�s COVID- 19 Response and Recovery Fund administered by the Provincial Development Unit (PDU) in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

This project is being done under the permitted activity provisions for river works of the Canterbury Land & Water Regional Plan and must be done in accordance with the Canterbury Regional Code of Practice for defences against water and drainage schemes.

A flood event in December 2019 caused erosion of the right bank of the Rangitata River in a number of locations including at the Peel Forest closed landfill located at the end of Dennistoun Road. During this event some superficial waste from the perimeter of the landfill entered the river and was subsequently cleaned up (Figure 1).

There is concern that further erosion of the right bank could result in parts of the main landfill falling into the river. TDC are leading ongoing investigations into long term management options for the closed landfill including removal of the landfill material.

These investigations along with funding arrangements are expected to take several years to progress so an interim solution to reduce the risk of further erosion is desired.