The Queenstown Lakes District Council continues work to optimise the plant, following urgent repairs which began in the first week of this month to address an issue with the sludge processing and de-watering system at the facility.
Council property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said while issues at the plant had been largely resolved, a secondary problem with the facility’s aeration grids had since occurred.
"We’re working to secure the necessary replacement parts required and plan to undertake further maintenance at the facility this week."
The work had led to complaints about the smell coming from the work at the plant and nearby residents said they could not go outside at times.
Mr Avery said plans were also in place to operate an odour-mitigation cannon at the Shotover wastewater treatment plant, using a water-based fog to encapsulate smell before it moves off-site.
Mr Avery acknowledged the facility’s operational snags had led to an unpleasant time for local residents and businesses, and he apologised for the unforeseen issues.
"While it’s difficult to say how long it will take for the biological process to stabilise and for all odour to dissipate, significant progress continues to be made and we should start to see the smell in the area improving," Mr Avery said.
The council continues to provide the Otago Regional Council’s pollution team with daily reports on odour coming from the plant.
