Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

Last Friday marked one year since the Rena went aground on the Astrolabe Reef.

To mark the anniversary, I was fortunate to take a helicopter ride out to see what is left above the water line. The relatively small part of the bow section still visible is a testament to the huge power of the sea and the resources and determination of the owners, insurers and salvors who have been working hard to remove the wreck. On what was a relatively calm day, it looked very precarious work for the teams of divers and salvors who were working to cut up the bow into sections one metre below the waterline. The new salvors, American-based company Resolve, say the work is difficult, dangerous and is one of the most expensive salvage and wreck removal operations in the world.

There have many lessons learnt during the past year. While we all wish that Rena did not run aground, we need to take all the positives we can from what has happened. The strength of our local volunteer network was proven by the oil response. Much work is being done under the Long-Term Environmental Recovery Plan, and studies are assessing the impacts on the environment. The first update from the winter sampling period is expected soon and the indications are that the results are very positive.

News last week of a review of the Rena response and the financial settlement between Government and the Rena's owners, the Daina Shipping Company, mark the beginning of a new phase for the Rena. A $1 million donation from the company chartering the Rena into a local council administered fund to help repay some of the clean-up and recovery costs incurred by the people and communities of the Bay of Plenty will also help local people move forward. There is still a long way to go, but real steps forward are being made. Not bad progress for a one year old wreck!

If you have any views on this or any other issue, please email me: [email protected] or phone 07 579 5150. Or you can check out my website: www.janenees.co.nz