People claim to want clean, swimmable water, but if that was
the case, why did they continue to pollute the region's
waterways with dead animals and rubbish, Otago Regional Cr
Stephen Woodhead has asked.
He was commenting on a report on freshwater incidents
presented to the Otago Regional Council's compliance
committee last week.
It detailed seven incidents where people had deliberately
polluted waterways, including three where dead animals had
been found in rivers and creeks.
Two couches had been dumped in Lindsay Creek, a dead dog had
been left in Sunnyvale Creek and a dead calf was found in the
Taieri River.
Domestic rubbish and car upholstery was left on the banks of
the Silverstream.
Cr Woodhead said people wanted clean, swimmable water but
then they dumped things in waterways.
"I find it disgusting and extremely disappointing."
In each case, the dead animals or rubbish could have been
easily dealt with at low cost so there was "no excuse" to
dump it in waterways.
Cr Bryan Scott said he had also been "blown away" by the
incidents, especially the dead animals.
However, Cr Deaker said given the regional council had
180,000 ratepayers, the report showed they were a "pretty
clean lot".
Overall, 27 freshwater incidents were reported to the council
in the eight weeks to February 5.
Other incidents related to sediment and stormwater discharges
and dairy effluent ponding.
rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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