Latest news with #TonyAvery
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Upgrades to wastewater infrastructure
Significant upgrades to wastewater infrastructure in Hāwea, Wānaka, and Albert Town will begin early next month, aiming to boost capacity of the region's network. Queenstown Lakes District Council property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery says the project will deliver critical improvements to support current and future housing demands while protecting the natural environment. "Existing infrastructure in Wānaka and Albert Town is fast approaching its capacity to effectively convey wastewater out to Project Pure Wastewater Treatment Plant and as many in Hāwea will be aware, the township's treatment plant has reached capacity too," Mr Avery said in a statement. The scheme includes a new wastewater pump station at Domain Road in Hāwea; 12.5km of new wastewater pipeline connecting Domain Road to existing infrastructure at the Albert Town pump station, upgrades to the existing Riverbank Road pump station, 7.4km of new wastewater pipeline connecting Riverbank Road pump station and Albert Town pump station to Project Pure. "These upgrades will see wastewater from the Hāwea township being treated and disposed of at Project Pure, enable future connection of Hāwea Flats and Hāwea Campground, and allow for flows from Wānaka and Albert Town to be managed by two pump stations," Mr Avery said. "Ultimately, the network will be able to handle Upper Clutha's wastewater needs well into the future, treatment and disposal will be improved, and the network will be more resilient in the event of any unforeseen issues." Physical work on the Upper Clutha Wastewater Conveyance Scheme was expected to begin next month, with construction anticipated to be completed by early 2027, nearly a year earlier than initially anticipated. Hāwea's existing wastewater treatment plant will be decommissioned once the township's new pump station and pipeline are operating. Mr Avery warned that as with any large construction project some disruption was likely once work on the upgrades begins, and would include noise, vibration, traffic management, and increased construction machinery movements around various work sites between Hāwea, Albert Town, and Project Pure near Wānaka Airport. Large parts of the new pipeline running from Hāwea to Project Pure will be installed on the side of State Highway 6. Other key impacts will include disruption on both Camphill Road Bridge and Albert Town Bridge when installation of the new pipeline occurs in these locations. Mr Avery said a detailed delivery plan is being worked on by the contractor, and more information about the works and what to expect will be shared once this is completed. — Allied Media
Scoop
04-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Extensive Infrastructure Upgrades To Futureproof Upper Clutha's Wastewater Needs
Upgrades to Hāwea, Wānaka, and Albert Town's wastewater infrastructure are set to begin in early September 2025, responding to and futureproofing Upper Clutha's wastewater needs, providing additional capacity across the network, and helping to further protect the natural environment too. Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) General Manager Property & Infrastructure, Tony Avery said the project would see an extensive range of work undertaken to improve local infrastructure and provide for current and future housing in the area. 'Existing infrastructure in Wānaka and Albert Town is fast approaching its capacity to effectively convey wastewater out to Project Pure Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), and as many in Hāwea will be aware, the township's treatment plant has reached capacity too,' said Mr Avery. To address these constraints, the Upper Clutha Wastewater Conveyance Scheme project will see a range of improvements made to the area's wastewater network, including: A new wastewater pump station (WWPS) at Domain Road in Hāwea 12.5km of new wastewater pipeline connecting Domain Road to existing infrastructure at the Albert Town WWPS Upgrades to the existing Riverbank Road WWPS 7.4km of new wastewater pipeline connecting Riverbank Road WWPS and Albert Town WWPS to Project Pure. 'These upgrades will see wastewater from the Hāwea township being treated and disposed of at Project Pure, enable future connection of Hāwea Flats and Hāwea Campground, and allow for flows from Wānaka and Albert Town to be managed by two pump stations,' added Mr Avery. 'Ultimately, the network will be able to handle Upper Clutha's wastewater needs well into the future, treatment and disposal will be improved, and the network will be more resilient in the event of any unforeseen issues.' Physical work on the Upper Clutha Wastewater Conveyance Scheme is expected to begin in September 2025, with construction anticipated to be completed by early 2027, nearly a year earlier than initially anticipated. Hāwea's existing wastewater treatment plant will be decommissioned once the township's new pump station and pipeline are operating. As with any large construction project some disruption is likely once work on these upgrades begins, and will include noise, vibration, traffic management, and increased construction machinery movements around various work sites between Hāwea, Albert Town, and Project Pure near Wānaka Airport. Large parts of the new pipeline running from Hāwea to Project Pure will be installed on the side of State Highway 6 (SH6) or within rural road corridors, meaning most of the project's impacts will be limited to sections of temporary traffic management. Other key impacts will include disruption on both Camphill Road Bridge and Albert Town Bridge when installation of the new pipeline occurs in these locations. A detailed delivery plan is currently being worked on by the Contractor, and more information about these works and what to expect will be shared once this is completed.
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Queenstown council wants Environment Court to make decision on discharge into Shotover River
The Shotover River where Queenstown Lakes District Council discharged 12,000 cubic metres of treated wastewater in March. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton The Queenstown Lakes District Council wants its retrospective application to discharge treated effluent to Shotover River to go directly to the Environment Court. In late March, the council enacted emergency powers under the Resource Management Act to pump at least 12,000 cubic metres of treated wastewater into the river each day from the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant after its disposal field failed. The council submitted a retrospective resource consent to the Otago Regional Council in May and asked for it to be publicly notified. The Queenstown Lakes District Council has now applied to the regional council to directly refer its resource consent to the Environment Court. District council property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said it believed that this would provide the most efficient and robust approach given the nature of the consent. "Shotover River is a significant natural resource and comes with considerable cultural and community values. "As such, we believe it is beneficial for the evaluation of and decision on council's application to be made in an experienced and well-resourced court," Avery said. If approved, it would mean the regional council would no longer be the decision-maker in the first instance - the Environment Court would. Earlier this year, the regional council took the district council to Environment Court over repeated resource consent breaches at the plant . It resulted in the [. district council being ordered to pay at least $235,000] in costs and fix the issues at the plant The Queenstown Lakes District Council said that meant the Environment Court was already well acquainted with the matter and "would help to provide an efficient and comprehensive decision from a neutral arbiter". Public notification, submission timeframes and assessing the application would still fall under the regional council's jurisdiction, and it would still need to provide that assessment and a report before the matter was heard by the court. The district council said the Environment Court would be able to properly test evidence to assist decision makers. "Referring the matter to the Environment Court would result in a faster decision, ensure access to the necessary resourcing in a cost-effective way, and provide a simple process that the public can engage with and take part in if they wish to," the district council said. "Rights of appeal would remain intact." If the regional council declined the request, it would stay as the decision maker and a council hearing would be held. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
27-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Request Made For Retrospective Consent Regarding Wastewater Discharge To Go Before Environment Court
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has applied to the Otago Regional Council (ORC) to have its resource consent application to discharge treated wastewater to Shotover River be directly referred to the Environment Court, in accordance with s87D of the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991. QLDC already asked for public notification of the resource consent application when it was first submitted to Otago Regional Council (ORC) on Thursday 1 May 2025, which means the public will have an opportunity to make submissions on the application if they wish to do so. QLDC General Manager Property & Infrastructure, Tony Avery said that given the nature of the consent sought and its relation to the highly valued Kimi-ākau Shotover River, QLDC believed direct referral to the Environment Court would provide the most efficient and robust approach to the situation. 'Shotover River is a significant natural resource and comes with considerable cultural and community values. As such, we believe it is beneficial for the evaluation of and decision on Council's application to be made in an experienced and well-resourced Court,' said Mr Avery. 'If approved, the request would mean ORC would no longer be the first instance decision-maker on the application, as the Environment Court would take that role. The usual process, including public notification, submissions timeframes, and assessment of the application would still be under ORC's jurisdiction. The Environment Court would follow a process that would fully uphold public participation principles, which would include the right of submitters to appear, be heard, and be parties to Court assisted mediation, which is free of charge to all participants. An important benefit of the direct referral process is that the Court can properly test evidence in a manner like cross examination which is not available under the protocols of a Council hearing, assisting the decision-maker to fully evaluate expert evidence. Furthermore, referring the matter to the Environment Court would result in a faster decision, ensure access to the necessary resourcing in a cost-effective way, and provide a simple process that the public can engage with and take part in if they wish to. Rights of appeal would remain intact. Ultimately, direct referral of the application would help to provide an efficient and comprehensive decision from a neutral arbiter already well acquainted with the matter through enforcement order proceedings lodged by Otago Regional Council (ORC). QLDC's formal request for direct referral of the resource consent application now sits with ORC to approve or decline. ORC will still be required to provide an assessment of the application and a report, which will include a summary of public submissions, before the matter is heard by the Court. If ORC declines the request, ORC would remain the decision-maker in the first instance, and a Council hearing would be held. The resource consent application to discharge treated effluent to Shotover River was submitted to ORC on Thursday 1 May 2025 and seeks retrospective consent for the discharge that commenced on 31 March 2025 under emergency powers, in accordance with s330 of the RMA.
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Progress made to fix Shotover wastewater treatment plant issues, Queenstown Lakes District Council says
Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant in Queenstown. Photo: Supplied / Queenstown Lakes District Council The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says it's already made progress in fixing issues with its troubled Shotover wastewater treatment plant, and is ahead of plans to significantly upgrade the plant by the end of the year. It comes after the Environment Court imposed a number of conditions on the plant to address negative effects on the environment. The decision, released on Monday, outlined seven pages of separate enforcement orders, including upgrades, contingency measures, timeframes and milestones to be met. It was released after mediation between QLDC, Queenstown Airport Corporation and Otago Regional Council. QLDC general manager of property and infrastructure Tony Avery said the orders largely reflected activities and investments the council had already identified and committed to. "We're ahead of our programme to significantly upgrade the wastewater treatment plant by the end of this year, which will introduce a second treatment reactor and a range of supporting infrastructure to further improve the quality of treated water discharged from the facility and cater for our growing district." He said the results of ongoing testing of the treated wastewater since direct discharge began remained well within consented limits. The Environment Court's requirements relate to the operation, maintenance and upgrading of the facility, and include but are not limited to: The decision also requires QLDC to submit a consent application for a new disposal system by May 2026, and to implement that system by December 2030. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
