No application for global discharge consent
THE Clutha District Council has not applied for a global wastewater discharge consent as suggested recently, although it may do so in future.
During a ‘‘meet the candidates’’ session for Dunstan ward in Alexandra on Sunday, Otago Regional Council candidate Phill Hunt said Clutha District Council had applied for consent to discharge wastewater overflows, similar to a recent, controversial QueenstownLakes District Council application.
He said Queenstown would be the precedentsetter for the move among southern councils.
Last month Queenstown came in for criticism after it emerged 190 of 193 submissions opposed an ORC application it made for a 35year permit to discharge wastewater overflows — including sewage — into lakes, rivers and creeks.
Contacted by the Otago Daily
on Monday, Clutha District Council service delivery group manager Jules Witt said Mr Hunt’s statement was
‘‘inaccurate’’.
‘‘We’ve held a wastewater bypass consent from ORC, solely for our Milton sewage plant, for many years, which expired in 2017. We’re working through the consenting process with ORC now to renew that permission, which may be where the story came from.’’
Last year Clutha received a deferred $21,000 fine for an unconsented discharge into the Clutha River at Balclutha, after a prosecution was brought by ORC.
During the overflow at Hasborough Place, 18 to 19cu m of wastewater, including human waste and toilet paper, was discharged via the stormwater system.
Aside from the Milton consent, Mr Witt said the council would also be looking at districtwide options to resolve future discharge issues during the next 1218 months.
That could include applying for a global consent like Queenstown, he said.