Outfall consents appeal
The City Council has reviewed the 381-page decision released earlier this month granting all consents, subject to conditions, to build maintain and operate the Ocean Outfall for disposal of wastewater 3km into Pegasus Bay.
The Council is delighted with the decision. However, clarification is needed on a small number of the consent conditions to give the Council confidence that it can achieve full compliance. The issues being appealed include how consent conditions will be interpreted in the future, and testing for indicator organisms which the Council considers are not related to the treatment process.
Initial talks with key interest groups indicates there is general support for these matters to be addressed. The Council is hopeful that, with the agreement of registered parties, the appeal can be resolved quickly as a negotiated settlement without going to the expense of a full Environment Court hearing. |
