Ratepayers could be spending much more than a penny to dispose of stock truck effluent in Central Otago.
That is one of the conclusions drawn by the Central Otago District Council, in its submission to the draft Otago Regional Council annual plan. The regional council had long-term plans for four more stock effluent sites in Central Otago: at Cromwell, Alexandra, Tarras and Kyeburn, Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper says in the submission.
If more sites were set up, urban sewage treatment facilities might be considered for disposing of the effluent, but would struggle to cope with the increased loading, Mr Lepper said.
Although the council supported more stock truck effluent sites being set up in Otago, it did not support the current regime of the ‘‘host'' territorial local authority funding ongoing maintenance and operation of the sites.
There was only one site now within the Central Otago district, at Raes Junction, and the effluent from there was disposed of through the nearest urban wastewater treatment facility, in Balclutha, in the Clutha district, he said.
‘‘The only urban wastewater system within Central Otago that is large enough to accommodate stock effluent is at Cromwell. Modifications are likely to be required to handle the increased loading that the effluent will have on the wastewater scheme.
‘‘There are also potential resource consent issues relating to the disposal of effluent which does not originate from the community served by the scheme.
‘‘Potentially, Central Otago district ratepayers may be required to fund upgrading of sewage treatment to handle the stock effluent,'' Mr Lepper said in the submission.
The district council said it would not contribute towards the maintenance cost of existing or future stock effluent sites in the district. Some of the existing and planned Central Otago sites were close to district boundaries and would service stock travelling through five other districts.
The maintenance and operation of all effluent sites should be funded by the regional council, from rates collected across the region, Mr Lepper said.
‘‘The roads within Central Otago on which effluent is spilled are typically state highways and not local roads. In many cases, the stock originate from other districts and are passing through Central Otago.''
The submission was ratified at yesterday's council meeting. Cr Stu Duncan said spilled stock effluent problems were not generated in the district.
‘‘Arguably, the problem in Central Otago is created from stock travelling from Southland,'' Cr Duncan said.
