First meeting sets the priorities
We had the first GWRC environment committee last Thursday, and what a cracker it was — well it was great sitting in the chairing seat. LOL.
On the agenda were formal papers on setting our strategic priorities for the environment committee, and outlining the Regional Biodiversity Framework that is in place.
Pretty big stuff to tuck in to for a first meeting. We soon realised councillors will actually need the opportunity to discuss environmental priorities given there are a lot of new councillors and even for us returning to the council that things are moving very quickly, and we need to consider the collective view.
And while some things are fast, some things are altogether too slow, hence the item that I added just a few days before the meeting with an oral update from staff on the unplanned discharges from the Wellington City Council’s wastewater system.
Over the summer these discharges caused widespread concern among communities, as well as confusion about who’s responsible for the region’s stormwater networks. Sewage discharges come through stormwater systems as a result of overflows to stormwater, cross connections (wastewater pipes being inappropriately connected into the stormwater network) or bust pipes.
GWRC is the regulatory authority on the stormwater systems throughout the region — which means it is our responsibility to regulate the quality of the water that comes out at the end of the pipes across the network.
City and district councils hold the consents for the stormwater network, Wellington Water operates the networks on behalf of city and district councils, and then it is our job to ensure the quality of the water that comes out at the end is in compliance with the consents given.
Under those consents Wellington Water has a responsibility along with city and district councils to manage acute effects of discharges on human health — this includes putting signs and information out when water is not safe to swim in and also investigating and subsequently actioning any contamination issues with such effects. We monitor for ecological effects from sewage discharges under the Resource Management Act (RMA).
There are some ongoing investigations which will determine whether stormwater and wastewater consents have been adhered to. Once investigations are completed we’ll determine what, if any action to take. We can take a range of actions, from a formal warning or education type response, to infringement notices or going as far as prosecuting for more serious breaches. So we looking in to that now.
The biggest issue region-wide is ageing infrastructure which is likely to cost district and city councils millions of dollars to replace.
My thanks to GWRC officers for covering off our end of the equation, and to Wellington Water who came in to explain their role and actions. And thank you to the Owhiro Bay Residents Association who spoke in public speaking.