Human Waste To Plug Extinct Auckland, New Zealand Volcano
Kim Roscoe
The waste would be dumped on a side of the volcanic island that had been extensively quarried in the past 50 years. The island's original volcanic cone formation could also be rebuilt using the biosolids, subject to public opinion, spokesman Clive Nelson said.
The other side of the island was once home to former Dominion Breweries owner Sir Henry Kelliher - and New Zealand trotting great Cardigan Bay - but is now held by a charitable trust and used as a wedding reception lounge.
The new biosolids dump was expected to be commissioned in about 2011 and take 30 years to fill, at which time it would be rehabilitated and turned into a regional park.
Meanwhile, a coastal walk and car parks would be opened to the public within six months of the company getting resource consents, Mr Nelson said.
Auckland University vulcanologist Ian Smith said Aucklanders need not be concerned that they would be showered in "biosolids" in the event of an eruption.
Formed 30,000 years ago, Puketutu Island is one of about 50 volcanoes on the active Auckland volcanic field.
The next eruption from within that field was likely to form a new volcano, rather than come from an existing one, Dr Smith said.
"I think it is pretty safe."