QLDC’s Avery approved illegal wall $’s – Mooney under pressure

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Analysis

There have been some major developments in the evolving sewage crisis this week – including an admission from the Queenstown Lakes District Council that their Infrastructure General Manager Tony Avery (above left) commissioned contractor Veolia to build the non-consented two-kilometre wall around the failed Shotover disposal field in April 2024.

The council did not inform the sewage plant regulator, the Otago Regional Council, about the wall construction. Elected councillors were also kept in the dark. It’s not clear exactly where the $600,000 - $800,000 cost came from.

The sewage plant failure has the potential to stop all Queenstown development for the next five or more years and cost more than a billion dollars in lost property development revenue. The repair costs are likely to involve significant QLDC expenditure.

In a highly unusual move the QLDC, after months of refusing to answer this key question – who paid for the wall – released the information to Crux under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) within 24 hours of our latest request, instead of the permitted 20 days.

Local MP Joseph Mooney (above right) issued this brief statement to Crux in response to us asking him for his clear position on the sewage crisis.

"Safe and compliant treatment of sewage is very important for our community and the environment. Whilst I want to see a swift and compliant solution to the situation, the responsibility to provide that solution lies with the QLDC, and as the matter is currently before the courts I am unable to comment further at this stage."

This statement varies in one important aspect to questions we have asked of Government Ministers and environment agencies, all of whom say that it is the responsibility of the Otago Regional Council (ORC), as regulator, to get the sewage plant fixed.

The ORC has applied to the Environment Court for an enforcement order that will force QLDC to fix the sewage plant.

Mayor Lewers has claimed, in an interview with The Platform in January this year, that the sewage problems were limited to the disposal field which had no real purpose and in any case was the fault of a “previous council for cultural (iwi) reasons.”

Extensive court evidence from the Otago Regional Council says that the Shotover sewage problems are widespread and not limited to the disposal field. Much of the evidence suggests the disposal field problems being caused by ongoing faults with the main sewage plant.

The field is blocked with solid waste, that came from the main plant, and that is not supposed to get as far as the disposal field. Technically it’s supposed to be impossible - and is evidence the main plant has not been operated correctly for years.

Mayor Lewers told the Platform:

“The disposal field does not provide any treatment or added treatment benefits. So that's the issue we've got. It’s disposal to land. And look, this community wants it hidden and we're hiding it. And now that's become visible. That's where the angst comes from.”

“It’s not our fault but it's our problem and we'll sort the problem out.”

And yet – QLDC does not seem to know how to fix the problem.

Now that we know that the QLDC’s Tony Avery funded Veolia to build the wall around the disposal field, a lot of other situations become a lot clearer.

To be clear, this is what the QLDC told Crux on Wednesday this week in response to our questions.

1. How and when did QLDC pay Veolia for the construction of the disposal field bund/wall [at Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant]?

QLDC Answer: QLDC contracted Veolia to undertake works at the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant disposal field in April 2024 as part of its response to limit discharges outside of field area. Veolia was engaged under the existing contract for three waters operation and maintenance services and was conducted in accordance with QLDC’s Procurement Policy and Guidelines. Veolia elected to subcontract the physical works to Beaver Construction.

2. Who authorised this payment?

QLDC Answer: The QLDC Property and Infrastructure General Manager (Tony Avery) approved the payment for the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant disposal field based on the reasons outlined in our response to question one and in accordance with the role's delegated authority.

It is noteworthy that the QLDC does not reveal the cost, believed to be around $800,000. Councillors were not told about the decision or the expenditure.

The current regional manager of Veolia, Marcus Warren, left his QLDC infrastructure role in around March 2024 to join Veolia.

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