2 November 2004

Council releases details on properties

Auckland City today released a map showing the areas that have been identified as possibly having been used in the past for horticultural activity.

The properties of 4,872 residential owners may possibly be on land previously used for horticulture.

Homeowners will receive a letter from Auckland City this week.

The information has been released after Auckland Regional Council and Auckland District Health Board undertook a research project in 2001 into the effect on soil of past horticultural activity.

The study aimed to assess the extent of residual contamination in soils from the past activity.

The study involved sampling 43 horticultural and agricultural sites in the Auckland region. Only one site within Auckland City’s boundaries was tested.

The study concluded that historic horticultural activity resulted in comparatively elevated levels of contaminants on approximately 45 per cent of the sites. The remainder of the sites showed acceptable levels.

Auckland City then undertook a desktop study to identify which properties in Auckland city may have been used in the past for horticultural purposes. Old aerial photographs of the city, taken in the 1940s and 1950s, were studied. Auckland City has a responsibility to disclose information it has about a property. The possibility of past horticultural activity is being put onto the land information memorandum (LIM) files of the private properties.

Auckland City will be writing directly to the affected property owners. The letters will be sent to property owners this week.

ENDS

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