Councillor critical of consent for St Andrews wastewater

A resource consent for the discharge of wastewater in St Andrews has been labelled a ’’complex solution to a non-existent problem’’ by a Waimate District councillor.

But Environment Canterbury (ECan) said the consent was chosen by the public and would protect water and air quality.

ECan has granted the Waimate District Council a renewed resource consent for 15 years to discharge on-site domestic wastewater into land at St Andrews in a specified area, with new conditions for maintenance and servicing septic tanks.

Councillor Tom O’Connor, who lives in the town, said the resource consent was never needed in the first place, but ECan had previously given residents an ultimatum and now they were stuck with it.

‘‘They said if you don’t get the consent then you could not repair the tank. You had to buy a new $20,000 enviro tank.’’

Those in the designated area would have to replace their septic tanks at their own cost if they did not meet standards, but those outside would not need a consent or have to worry about the cost of replacement, he said.

O’Connor said some years ago ECan suggested a reticulated sewage system for St Andrews but, apart from the prohibitive cost, the existing septic tanks were not creating any ‘‘detectable problems’’.

As an alternative the council proposed a 15-year global resource consent for all the septic tanks in the village which was bizarre, he said.

The global consent was due to expire later this year and ECan had proposed a renewed consent, which meant in the event of a breakdown, the septic tanks could be replaced ‘‘like for like’’ or repaired rather than residents having to buy a brand new tank.

‘‘Faced with those alternatives the villagers chose to renew the consent. It is a complex solution to a non-existent problem and yet another case of ECan using bullying tactics to force people to comply with illogical plans and rules, as they are with log burners and irrigation emissions,’’ O’Connor said.

He argued the consent was unnecessary as ‘‘no seepage has been detected at the foot of the coastal cliff for many years and, when seepage was detected recently, there were no indications of effluent intrusion’’.

ECan zone manager for Waitaki Chris Eccleston said the new consent meant there was now a difference in how existing systems were maintained and serviced

‘‘Existing systems may be replaced under this consent, but no systems can be installed at currently vacant lots - these would need individual consents at a later date.’’

The new consent was different from the previous consent in that servicing and maintenance was more specific. The previous consent required samples when seepage had previously occurred and action to be taken if limits were breached.

‘‘The new does not require sampling, but instead, visual inspection of the location to see if seepage is occurring with photographs to be provided to Environment Canterbury.’’

Tanks could be replaced like for like if existing systems meet Australia and New Zealand standards for waste water systems, he said.

The council held a public meeting and expressed preference for council to renew the consent so that option was chosen. The rules had been put in place to protect air and water quality, he said.

Residents did not need to make any changes until they required repairs, at which point they’ll need to install an effluent filter, a measure proposed by Waimate District Council.