Workers in hazardous material suits have begun taking samples from the asbestos-contaminated area discovered at the Maungatapu underpass site.

Officials are keen to learn the extent of the contamination, with samples set to be analysed and a report prepared for Bay of Plenty Regional Council before disposal plans are drawn up.

Workers have begun taking soil samples from the Maungatapu underpass site this week. Photo: Andrew Campbell.

NZ Transport Agency project leader John McCarthy has confirmed a decision will be made to either contain the contaminated ground, or truck it to an approved dump site – the nearest of which is near Thames.

Asbestos is buried on the eastern side of the Kaitemako Stream, near the site of new bridge footings, and in an area requiring wick draining to remove soil moisture.

'The problem is the structural integrity of the material,” says John. 'If it was a landscaped area it wouldn't matter, but we are trying to drive piles through that.

'We were opening up that area to drive wick drains – that's what the machine on the other side with the blue mast is.

'Contractors will have to remove that rubbish or pre-drill through it.

'The drains are like a drinking straw or a fire hose. They are pushed in with a steel probe and they don't like anything that's not soil.”

John also confirmed that the asbestos discovery is not delaying the project, as contractors are currently working on different areas of the job.

On the Welcome Bay side, the main drains are in place and the public can see the culvert head wall that will eventually take the stormwater flow out to the Kaitemako Stream.

The origin of the asbestos is unknown, says John.

'It looks like it was included in building rubble. The specialists will include anything known about its origins in their report for the regional council.”

Anyone with any information about a building on the site before the former scout hall was constructed, is asked to phone Claire Peterson-Kroll on: 928 7901.