Separation of stormwater and wastewater services on private property to begin in Roebuck Street catchment
Private property inspections signalling the start of Buller District Council’s stormwater and wastewater separation programme will commence in February 2026.
Many private properties in Westport currently discharge rainwater (from roofs and paved areas) directly into the wastewater (sewer) system, instead of into appropriate stormwater outlets.
While Westport’s wastewater system and treatment plant work well in dry weather, medium and heavy rain events overwhelm the system, causing wastewater to overflow into the Buller and Orowaiti Rivers and often onto backyards and streets.
The resource consent that previously allowed these overflows has now expired and to renew the consent, the West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) requires BDC to commit to a programme to reduce the volume of stormwater in our wastewater network over the next 10 years. Continuing without a resource consent will result in a breach of the Resource Management Act and risks incurring significant financial penalties.
Investigations in 2022 identified at least 611 properties in Westport as having cross-connections between their stormwater and wastewater systems. In response, BDC has committed to a targeted private separation program aimed at removing these cross-connections to achieve a significant reduction in combined stormwater and wastewater overflows from pump stations into our rivers.
Group Manager Infrastructure Services Anthony Blom says: “As part of the 2025-2034 Long-Term Plan process, Buller residents were consulted about their preferred option for funding the remediation of these cross-connections. A targeted rate, charged to all Westport and Carters Beach residents connected to the wastewater treatment plant network was chosen as the most suitable pathway to compliance. The programme will be delivered progressively over the next 10 years.”
To reduce the amount of stormwater entering the wastewater network, BDC will be inspecting properties and reversing any cross-connections on a by-catchment basis. Homeowners will be notified in writing if their properties are affected.
Council will be starting inspections to confirm the condition of individual properties’ stormwater and wastewater connections, and if issues are found, the property owner (and tenant, if applicable) will receive a letter explaining what needs to be done.
“Council will engage a certified drainlayer to fix any cross connections. This work is a beneficial improvement to the property, provided at no cost to the homeowner, and will be noted on the property’s Land Information Memorandum (LIM)” says Mr Blom.
The first area to be targeted for this work is the Roebuck Street catchment (see image supplied), which has been chosen due to its size, and the positive impact that it is expected to have on reducing the overflow volumes. Working with this catchment initially will also allow council the opportunity to understand the costs of delivery and refine the programme forecasts as it progresses.
If residents who receive an inspection letter have any questions about the process involved, they can email drainright@bdc.govt.nz.
-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.