Runoff annoying residents

The development of a large retirement village in Nelson has resulted in a number of complaints to the city council in the last six months about water runoff affecting nearby properties.

Earthworks began on the $125 million Coastal View Lifestyle Village on Princes Drive in 2016. In May, contractors developing the village were fined $90,000 for ‘‘gross pollution’’ of the Maire Stream.

The stream has been inundated several times, affecting Annesbrook residents, with a number sharing their concerns in a post on Facebook.

Nelson City Council group manager environmental management Clare Barton said the developers were required through a resource consent to achieve a 10 per cent reduction in pre-development flows through detention ponds or other means.

‘‘Council has received 11 complaints from residents in Annesbrook since the beginning of this year, and staff have visited and discussed the issues with the affected parties.’’

Some of the complaints related to sediment in the stream, she said, while others were due to flooding – from heavy weather events, a blocked culvert and a king tide.

Barton said the council was investigating the source of any additional runoff and potential solutions.

At an Environment Court hearing in Nelson, contractors developing the village were fined for an ‘‘appalling’’ management of sediment from the Tasman Heights site.

Directors for KB Quarries and KB Contracting and Quarries were sentenced on charges brought under the Resource Management Act which related to three specific instances where sediment-laden water was discharged from two earthworks treatment ponds into the stream.