Momentum Environmental Ltd, as SQEP to the contractor, are pleased to be able to organise a site tour for conference attendees. The tour will commence from the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre and take you on a scenic bus ride along the Avon River/Otakaro to New Brighton. You will travel through parts of the ‘red zone’, areas affected by severe ground damage in the Christchurch earthquakes and now going through a transformation to multiple different uses. One of those transformations is a piece of land that Christchurch City Council is turning onto a stormwater management area, which requires a new stopbank to be constructed as part of the initial stages. The land was formerly a residential area and has multiple HAIL sites adjacent and nearby. Soil contamination and dewatering issues have formed a central part of the site management measures at the site. Speakers will talk about the challenges and solutions to address environmental and human health risks at the site.

Canterbury provides a unique geological landscape, recognised above ground by the characteristic Braided Rivers. However the same forces responsible for the creation of the rivers provide equally interesting features of hydrogeology below ground.

The coach tour (of around 3 hours duration) will visit several locations to learn about where our groundwater comes from, how much there is, how it flows underground, how vulnerable to contamination and why Christchurch residents boast of it being the best tasting water in New Zealand if not the world! Learn about the science behind current challenges such as the impact of dairying on water quality, water bottling and chlorination and measures in place to protect it from contamination.