New illegal overflows at Shotover sewage plant

Crux has identified two seperate illegal overflows of semi-treated effluent today (Sunday, March 2nd) at the Queenstown Lakes District Council's main Shotover sewage plant.

We will have full reaction from both QLDC and the regulator the Otago Regional Council on Monday, March 3.

Crux understands that the two local bodies will enter a private mediation session with the Environment Court this week so that the court can decide on whether to issue sewage plant enforcement orders against the QLDC.

Since 2021 there have been two abatement notices and ten infringement notices issues by the ORC against the QLDC, with no clear action by the QLDC.

QLDC has consistently denied that there is a major problem with the main plant - but now it looks as though all parts of the plant are suffering some type of breakdown.

The Deputy Mayor Quentin Smith and ORC councillor Alexa Forbes have both called for a complete halt to all Queenstown residential and commercial development until the sewage plant is fixed - a process that experts say could take up to five years.