Public weigh in on sewerage scheme

Glenorchy's proposed sewerage system took over the public forum at yesterday's full Queenstown Lakes District Council meeting.

While no-one was vehemently opposed to a scheme for the township, no-one present was fully supportive of the scheme in its current form, with residents and business owners seeking more information for the community before it was asked to vote on the proposal.

Included among those who addressed the council before the agenda item was discussed was lawyer Graeme Todd, on behalf of Cabo Ltd, registered owner of Wyuna Station.

He said Cabo was "vehemently opposed'' to any plans to establish the treatment plant and disposal field for the proposed system on an area of the station known as the Peninsula, to which Cabo had a 33-year grazing licence.

"Cabo has entered into quite a significant investment and joint venture arrangement for the export of beef to America. They are very concerned about the loss of their land for grazing ... in terms of the site, [Tom Tuscher] is vehemently opposed ... there's a 33-year grazing licence with no right to terminate for this type of proposal.''

Blanket Bay general manager Tom Butler said the exclusive lodge "pretty well overlooks'' the proposed treatment plant site.

He was concerned about that as well as the potential odour affecting the area, while resident Trish Fraser had concerns about how much the scheme would cost the community.

"We support a scheme for Glenorchy, but not this scheme.''

Part of her concerns were the "very, very random'' dwelling equivalents the council appeared to be using, which could land some businesses in financial trouble.

Councillors questioned chief engineer Ulrich Glasner and property and infrastructure general manager Peter Hansby extensively about the proposal, including the cost, the community vote, where the disposal field might be and the actual system.

However, Mayor Vanessa van Uden said those were not decisions the council needed to make yesterday.

"We are not voting for whether the system goes ahead or not. The vote is for a two-stage procurement process; approving the vote ... and whether we actually get the guys to look at other land [options].

"They're asking for costs to be included.''

Cr Cath Gilmour asked what the risks would be in delaying a community vote - to support the scheme or otherwise - until more details were available, including costs and the dwelling equivalents.

Mr Hansby said the market would, in some respects, have some control over the costs.

"We could wait until tender but if the market understands that scheme is still subject to risk ... it may mean we won't get as good a pricing.''

Further, the council could incur "significant costs'' before the community vote, including up to about $500,000 on detailed design.

The council voted to approve the recommendation, with one amendment to a resolution on the public vote, stating it would be done after resource consent had been granted and dwellings equivalents had been done.

Crs Alexa Forbes and Simon Stamers-Smith abstained.

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