Emergency works have been carried out at the Franz Josef Glacier wastewater ponds, which were submerged last month when the Waiho (Waiau) River burst its banks, causing extensive flooding north of the resort.
Close to 2m of water went through the Scenic Hotel at Franz, forcing the evacuation of close to 200 people.
Raw sewage from the Westland District Council ponds was flowing straight into the river after the March 23 event.
Westland District Council district assets manager Vivek Goel said its contractor, Westroads, had been instructed to do ‘‘minimum'' works at the ponds to control the discharge of wastewater.
A broken section of the effluent intake pipe at one pond and damaged bund at the other had now been reinstated.
However, it could take up to four months to have pond one working effectively.
Mr Goel said the ponds, which it was hoped would soon be fully rebuilt in a new location, to the tune of $6.1 million, were ‘‘very badly damaged''.
‘‘The ponds at this stage have been exposed to severe flooding, resulting in pond one [being] silted with river sand and gravel.
‘‘It will take more than four months before any reasonable treatment could be achieved for the incoming wastewater. The situation has been advised to the West Coast Regional Council and we are in the process of working on an alternate treatment process to be established at a new site in Franz.''
Westland Mayor Mike Havill said the ponds were non-compliant but discharge was no longer going straight into the river.
‘‘The ponds were non-compliant before the event and they are still non-compliant,'' the mayor said. ‘‘The important bit is there's no risk to publichealth and safety and we will have primary treatments in place.''
The new wastewater infrastructure is included in the council's draft annual plan.
Franz Josef residents could face increased targeted rates to cover $3 million of the cost. A government subsidy for the remainder is being sought.
- By Janna Sherman of the Hokitika Guardian
