Discharge of wastewater into Shotover begins tomorrow

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will begin direct discharge of treated wastewater into the Shotover River tomorrow morning.

A statement from QLDC, released to media this afternoon, says the discharge begins Monday morning, 31 March, following the approval to exercise powers under section 330/330A of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).

"The use of emergency powers has been confirmed following notification by QAC of increased waterfowl activity around the ponded field which poses an elevated risk to aircraft operations in the area (including being close to/under the main flight path)," the statement reads.

"A resource consent for this interim disposal method will be sought from Otago Regional Council retrospectively, and must be lodged within 20 working days of formally notifying them of the works."

While the disposal field is failing, the issues "do not relate to the treatment plant itself, or the quality of the wastewater which is highly treated" the statement reads.