Frustration with slow pace fixing stormwater system

THE Otago Fish & Game Council is calling for ‘‘urgent action’’ to fix the stormwater system in the Alpha Series subdivision at the head of Wanaka’s Bullock Creek.

Chief executive Ian Hadland and members of the Friends of Bullock Creek group met Queenstown Lakes District Council staff on Monday and Mr Hadland said on Thursday while it was a ‘‘reasonably productive’’ meeting ‘‘the timeframes involved are stretching everyone’s patience’’.

Fish & Game owns land along Bullock Creek just downstream from the new Alpha Series subdivision being developed by Willowridge, and is concerned about flooding and contamination from stormwater runoff during heavy rain.

Mr Hadland said it was positive that the QLDC and the developer acknowledged the subdivision’s stormwater system was ‘‘largely inadequate’’.

‘‘It’s frustrating that it’s taken over two years, two further engineering reports and two peer reviews to discover what the locals, Friends of Bullock Creek and Fish & Game have been saying all along — there is little onsite soakage, peak stormwater flows have and will increase in speed and volume and there is a risk of that getting worse with further residential development.’’

Mr Hadland said he was pleased to hear the QLDC and Willowridge were looking for solutions within the subdivision ‘‘rather than relying on other people’s land’’ to solve the issues.

‘‘We now encourage the developer and QLDC to get on with a practical solution which doesn’t involve passing the stormwater on to downstream neighbours or directly to the lake without treatment.’’

Friends of Bullock Creek chairman Roger Gardiner said despite ‘‘wideranging discussion’’ at the meeting ‘‘we are really no further ahead with hearing about plans or proposals to protect the creek’’.

‘‘Suffice to say this is very frustrating and timeconsuming.’’

Willowridge director Allan Dippie said he too would like to see more speed.

‘‘But we understand council wishes to implement a comprehensive catchmentwide solution.’’

Mr Dippie said consultant engineers were working with council engineers on an overall stormwater design for the entire catchment, and they were due to meet next week.