Coastal Dunedin wastewater and stormwater discharges could become illegal if the Department of Conservation’s proposed marine reserves off the city’s coast go ahead unchanged, a city council policy analyst says.
In an updated draft submission to the department’s extended consultation on the proposed southeast marine protected area network off the South Island’s southeast coast, Dunedin City Council policy analyst Rachel East advises councillors that unless provisions are made in the Orau and Okaihae marine reserve orders in council, Dunedin’s wastewater and stormwater management activities "could be unable to legally continue".
As the original consultation period on a network of six marine reserves, five marine protected areas, and a kelp protection area, stretching from Timaru to Waipapa Point was interrupted by Covid-19, Ms East’s report (to be tabled at tomorrow’s full council meeting) argues that with submissions now closing on August 3, the council should amend its earlier submission to argue for allowances for existing city infrastructure in or near two proposed reserves.
The draft submission of her report to councillors endorses states the Tahuna and Lawyers Head wastewater outfalls and the St Clair stormwater outfalls discharge into the proposed Orau reserve.
Nearby, wastewater from the Green Island wastewater treatment plant is discharged into the sea through an 850m outfall pipeline off Waldronville.
Although the outfall is not within the proposed reserve’s boundaries, under certain conditions, the discharge plume could carry into the reserve, the report states.
The draft submission to be considered at tomorrow’s meeting states that for the proposed Orau reserve the council would request conditions to allow for existing discharges off the St Clair-St Kilda coast to ensure current activities could legally continue.
Further, the amended submission would request discussions with the department to reach agreement such that when infrequent unconsented discharges occur "they are not an offence under the Marine Reserves Act 1971 should the Orau Marine Reserve be established before the discharges are consented".
For the proposed Okaihae reserve, the council would request acknowledgement that wastewater may enter the reserve.
Related Stories
Comments
A classic case of our crap coming back to bite us all in the butt. That said, our systems need upgrading far and above any more spending on frills, ill-conceived pet projects and 'nice to haves'. Let's get our house in order DCC, set an example to the rest of our country, then maybe we can have a boardwalk... and a well protected coastline - but please, no more silly painting on our city streets!.
This cannot be ignored: "Dunedin City Council policy analyst Rachel East advises councillors that unless provisions are made in the Orau and Okaihae marine reserve orders in council, Dunedin’s wastewater and stormwater management activities "could be unable to legally continue".