Spill in Avon

CHRISTCHURCH — Environment Canterbury (ECan) pollution officers were last night searching for the source of a diesel spill in Christchurch’s Avon River. The spill, which happened about 4.30pm, appeared to be a mix of diesel and an undetermined contaminant, said ECan enforcement officer Ken Baxter. It was being soaked by an oil- absorbent boom and pads. By 6pm the main slug of diesel had flowed through the stormwater drain, Baxter said. The drain, near the corner of Waimairi Road and Peer Street where the Avon flows through the University of Canterbury, is a major stormwater pipe running for several kilometres through a residential zone. Baxter said no ducks, eels or other wildlife had been harmed, but officers would check further up the river to determine how far the diesel had spread. Environmental protection operations team manager James Tricker estimated the spill to be in the tens of litres.

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