Unconfirmed reports: Former QLDC manager suddenly quits sewage boss role

Analysis. Peter Newport.

Crux understands from sources close to the troubled Shotover Sewage plant in Queenstown that Veolia’s Regional Manager Marcus Warren (main image above) resigned on Friday (November 21) - with immediate effect. Staff were reportedly given no reasons for Mr Warren’s departure or details of any new or interim manager.

Veolia is the French headquartered multinational contractor running the QLDC’s multi million dollar sewage, stormwater and drinking water services.

Mr Warren became a controversial figure when he left his former job as a Senior Infrastructure Manager at the Queenstown Lakes District Council in early 2024 to become Veolia’s boss of the failing Shotover Wastewater Plant - only to immediately hire a close social contact of his to build an $800,000 non-consented earth wall around the malfunctioning sewage disposal field.

The wall failed within weeks - allowing partially treated, highly toxic sewage to be discharged for months into the protected Kawarau River - through a public recreation reserve.

After months of outright denials, the QLDC finally admitted in early 2025 that their General Manager of Infrastructure, Tony Avery, had released council money to Mr Warren at Veolia to pay for the illegal wall.

The regulator, the Otago Regional Council, was not informed, but their investigators witnessed the wall being built and then collapsing - with the sewage e-coli levels at times 9,000 times the approved public health limit.

Mr Avery finally admitted in a statement to Crux:

“I approved the need for taking urgent action to try and address the non-compliance of the disposal field to try and reduce its impact. That work needed to be undertaken with haste but ultimately has proven to not have addressed the underlying issue of the disposal field failure. The cost of the wall was around $700k.”

• QLDC’s General Manager - Infrastructure - Tony Avery.

A Crux investigation revealed images of Mr Warren holidaying with the main Shotover wall construction contractor, with links to Skyline Enterprises, in Christmas of 2024.

Both the QLDC mayor John Glover and Deputy Mayor Quentin Smith could not confirm or deny Mr Warren’s sudden departure when contacted by Crux this weekend.

Councillor Niki Gladding, now re-elected, lost her committee roles in a dramatic stand off with former Mayor Glyn Lewers, and some councillors, when she revealed the QLDC’s plans to declare a sewage emergency and discharge partially treated sewage into the Shotover River - bypassing the failed disposal field.

She told Crux a short time ago:

“I didn’t know Marcus had resigned until last night - and that could be for any number of reasons.

“What I’m interested in is QLDC’s decision- making, our management of contracts over time, and whether internal risk and procurement policies have been followed.

“We have three wastewater treatment plants under abatement notices or enforcement orders - that’s beyond concerning and indicates systemic issues.

“I think the Council has to consider a detailed investigation into the sequence of events, decisions, and actions that have brought us to this point.

“Without that we’re relying solely on the assurances of the staff involved; in my opinion, that’s no longer appropriate.”

Crux has asked both John Glover and Quentin Smith if they as elected members still have full confidence in Mr Avery.

Crux has also contacted Veolia’s lawyers in Sydney for details of Mr Warren’s current status.