Local MP endorses denial of sewage crisis

Analysis.

Local MP Joseph Mooney has endorsed local newspaper the Mountain Scene in spite of their refusal to report on the current Queenstown sewage crisis.

Mr Mooney also refused to take any position on the failure of the Shotover sewage plant in spite of questions from Crux when the crisis first emerged late last year.

Deputy Mayor Quentin Smith and local Otago Regional Council (ORC) elected member Alexa Forbes have both called for an immediate halt to all Queenstown development until the sewage plant can be fixed - a process that could take up to 5 years or long and cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has spent the last week in a series of  Environment Court closed door mediation sessions to defend themselves against multiple ORC affidavits that ask the court to issue an enforcement order that would trigger the start of a sewage plant repair process.

The ORC has assembled a formidable body of evidence that claims the QLDC ignored and covered up serious problems at the Shotover plant since 2021 when the ORC's first abatement notice was issued.

The QLDC has admitted in a recent report to their Audit, Finance and Risk Committee that there is no clear plan or cost for fixing the sewage plant.

Mr Mooney posted on social media last night (March 8) the following endorsement of the Mountain Scene and their main reporter Philip Chandler.

He was attending a private Mountain Scene party in Queenstown with no indication who organised, who attended or who paid for the event.

"A packed house this evening celebrating and acknowledging local Queenstown legend Scoop’s 40 years working as a journalist chronicling the life and times of Queenstown.

"Philip 'Scoop' Chandler may be the longest continuous-serving community journalist in New Zealand, notching up 40 years with Mountain Scene this March."

There is a generally accepted practice around the world that journalists should avoid close relationships, gifts and favours from businesses and political figures.

The Mountain Scene and  Otago Daily Times derive over a million dollars a year in revenue from the QLDC, Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council.

Mr Mooney risks a severe political backlash if the Environment Court decides in favour of the ORC and forces the QLDC into expensive and long term action to repair the Shotover plant. It risks jeopardising coalition partner Shane Jones "Build, Build, Build" philosophy that labels virtually all environmental augments against growth as "woke."

Shane Jones presents himself as the Prince of the Provinces, attacking environmental arguments as "woke" and dangerous

At Crux we often debate the best definition of what news actually is - this is one of our favourites, from US newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in the 1950's.

“News is something somebody doesn't want printed; all else is advertising.”