Urgent repairs as Queenstown's poo ponds pong again

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has had to report a problem at its Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Otago Regional Council's pollution response team.

In a statement this afternoon, QLDC infrastructure boos Tony Avery says "urgent repairs" are underway at the the facility, which is located adjacent to the Shotover Bridge.

He says the problem relates to "an issue with the sludge processing and dewatering system".

“The system in need of maintenance is essential for keeping the biological processes that are responsible for the treatment of wastewater healthy.

“I’d like to acknowledge and apologise for the odour that has been noticed around the Frankton area. We hope to have repairs in place and the smell under control as soon as possible.”

Mr Avery says staff and service suppliers are onsite and the regional council is being provided with daily reports "on smell coming from the facility".

The ORC has been approached for comment.

Mr Avery says the latest repairs are unrelated to ongoing upgrades underway at the treatment plant to improve wastewater capacity in the district.

A pond at the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

In October, Crux reported on unpleasant smells in the vicinity of the plant as a result of this work.

The council is spending $35.4 million on the upgrade.

Main image: The council has staff and suppliers onsite at the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant today working on urgent repairs.