Buller District Council responds to WCRC Abatement Notices

The Buller District Council (BDC) has received West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) Abatement Notices relating to wastewater discharges in both Reefton and Westport. 

“We want to assure our residents and ratepayers that we have been providing WCRC with updates and information about all our consented projects and programmes,” Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says. 

BDC has a number of consents with the WCRC who monitor compliance with regional plans and the Resource Management Act.  Over time, some compliance issues have not been fully addressed by either BDC or WCRC.  

BDC has been working to identify all conditions and the status of compliance, and is being open with WCRC on these matters.  

“We have been working closely with WCRC officers on all the issues raised in these notices and have provided them with Action Plans and indicative timeframes. We note that these action plans have not been referred to or acknowledged in the notices.  

“BDC has a multi-year programme underway to separate stormwater from the wastewater network. The eventual outcome of that work will progressively minimise the risk of overflows into the Buller River. This programme was agreed as part of last year's Long-Term Plan (LTP). At those LTP hearings WCRC spoke in support of that separation programme.  

“We continue to look forward to working closely with Regional Council on any concerns they have,” he says. 

People can stay up to date with BDC work on wastewater through the webpage: Drainright - Towards better wastewater management for Buller. 

-ENDS- 

For further information please contact:  

Community Engagement Team   
Buller District Council  

Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz   

Disclaimer 

The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.