Mayor slams MP's comments as 'irresponsible'

Jacqui Dean
Jacqui Dean
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has waded into the argument over the performance of Lake Hawea's wastewater plant and upset Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult in the process.

Ms Dean, who is the National Party's spokeswoman on local government, said yesterday both the Otago Regional Council [ORC] and the Queenstown Lakes District Council [QLDC] had been "underperforming''.

"My concerns come in the wake of revelations about the appalling state of the Hawea wastewater treatment plant.''

The Lake Hawea Community Association last month highlighted a report showing resource consent breaches at the plant since 2010.

"I think both councils are very lucky that this issue hasn't had more serious consequences, with there being similarities to the 2016 Havelock North water contamination scare where poor monitoring of local water supplies led to a fatal campylobacter outbreak,'' Ms Dean said in a press release.

In Havelock North, contamination of a bore was blamed for 5000 people becoming ill and was linked to three deaths.

Asked to comment on Ms Dean's press release, Mayor Boult said it was "irresponsible'' of Ms Dean to liken the non-compliance at the Hawea plant ``with the tragic loss of life in Havelock North''.

"The issues ... in Hawea and the associated levels of risk have been well understood by both QLDC and ORC.

"Balancing the cost of investment to address short-term, lower risk non-compliance at Hawea with the long-term, sustainable investment in Project Pure as a wider reaching treatment plant is something that has been thoroughly considered.

"It is far from the out-of-control picture Ms Dean presents and rather than releasing ill-informed media statements, we would welcome the opportunity for a direct, informed discussion with Ms Dean.''

The QLDC is planning to start work next year on a pipeline to carry Lake Hawea wastewater to its Project Pure treatment plant.

Ms Dean said if the councils wished to be seen as"robust stewards of community infrastructure and the environment, they must ... lift their game''.

"The lack of monitoring by one council and the compliance failures of the other are very troubling.''

ORC acting general manager regulatory Peter Winder said in response the Lake Hawea plant discharged "treated effluent to land and has no impact on drinking water''.

He said the ORC "acknowledged'' its monitoring of the plant "failed to meet its own standards'' but said comparing the situation to the Havelock North contamination was "unfair and unwarranted.''

 

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