On 19 February 2025, WWLA Principal Contaminated Land Advisor, Shane Moore, presented at the Auckland ALGA Branch Event titled, "Remember Groundwater? It’s in our Name, Make Sure It’s Part of Your Game." The event was held at GHD headquarters and focused on whether soil-focused contaminated land regulation has led to lesser attention to groundwater effects.
Shane introduced the regulatory context concerning contaminated groundwater. He discussed the unintended consequences of current legislation, highlighting issues such as managed fill applications neglecting groundwater pathways, inconsistent sampling methods, and the lack of comprehensive groundwater assessments. Shane emphasised the need for clearer regulations and increased industry awareness to protect groundwater quality. He also addressed emerging contaminants like PFAS and the challenges posed by current regulatory mechanisms, advocating for updates to national and regional guidelines.
Joining Shane were Simon Hunt, Technical Director at EHS Support New Zealand Ltd, who presented on groundwater data collection methods, and Laura Buckthought, Senior Freshwater Scientist at Auckland Council, who shared insights from Auckland Council’s long-term groundwater monitoring program and recent findings on nitrate transport and transformation mechanisms in Pukekohe volcanic aquifers.
The event facilitated a discussion on how the industry might address the challenges highlighted by the speakers, raising awareness of groundwater contamination effects. A video recording of the full talk is available for ALGA members through the ALGA members portal.
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