Pollution of stream has cost council

Whanganui District Council has been fined $21,000 for its role in polluting Mowhanau Stream.

After a three-day trial in the Environment Court in July, the council was found guilty of discharging human effluent into the stream in 2017.

The $21,000 fine was handed down at this week’s sentencing.

Horizons Regional Council, which took the prosecution, will put aside the portion of the fine it receives to fund work to help improve the health of the stream.

“The judge placed specific emphasis on that fact the discharge posed a real threat to public health and resulted in a cultural impact,” Horizons strategy and regulation group manager Dr Nic Peet said.

Peet said Horizons did not take the decision to prosecute lightly. “However, the offending warranted prosecution and this has been reflected in both the fact WDC has been fined $21,000 and convicted.”

The Whanganui council has also reached an agreement with local hapu, Tamareheroto, and it will pay $23,000 towards installing a pou at Nukumaru Domain, along with a history board produced by mana whenua. The money will also be used to develop a concept plan for a wetland area in the Mowhanau Stream. Horizons understood the district council also had an agreement with hapu to provide further funding.

The prosecution came after Horizons staff noticed effluent from the Tangi St pumping station flowing into the stream in January 2017. A blown fuse on a Powerco pole had cut power to the station and, in turn, the warning system that would have alerted district council staff to the problem.

The court afound the district council knew there was a risk power cuts could contribute to sewage overflow but delayed upgrades, citing financial prudence.