Business South November 2021

| 25 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Southland District Council Council gearing up for water reforms T Russell Fredric During the past decade SDC has invested significantly in water treatment across its fresh water supply networks. L ike other local authorities in New Zea- land, Southland District Council (SDC) is facing significant changes to the frame- work it operates under for its three waters infrastructure and services. From the second half of 2021, Taumata Arowai will be the new water services regula- tor for New Zealand, replacing the existing dis- jointed drinking water regulatory framework. This follows the Government launching, in July 2020, the Three Waters Reform Pro- gramme, a three-year programme to reform local government three waters service delivery arrangements with the aim of improving health and well-being outcomes along with providing equitable access to these services to ultimately benefit all communities in New Zealand. The Government’s objectives from this pro- gramme include improving the safety, quality, and environmental performance of water ser- vices while ensuring all New Zealanders have access to affordable three waters services. It also aims to increase the resilience of three waters service provision to both short and long-term risks and events and to provide mechanisms for enabling iwi/Maori rights and interests. This is proposed under four statutory, publicly-owned water services entities with independent, competency-based boards to govern each entity. SDC group manager infrastructure and environmental services Matt Russell says the large geographical region the council operates in means its assets are significant. It has 12 freshwater networks, 19 waste- water and 22 stormwater networks and nine rural water schemes. “There’s a fair degree of complexity with those networks,” Matt says. “With the introduction of the proposed water services bill, the establishment of a new water regulator, Taumata Arowai, and the impacts that these changes will have on the new regulatory framework within which three waters services are to be provided, the bar has lifted significantly. “Regional councils will continue as the regulatory authorities for consenting as far as waste water and storm water consents go.” While the council has an ageing infrastruc- ture, under the existing regulatory framework it is a compliant network of schemes, Matt says. During the past decade SDC has invested significantly in water treatment across its fresh water supply networks. However, in relation to waste water net- works, with recent proposed changes to the Southland People, Land and Water Plan, the regulatory framework has changed signifi- cantly, in particular to the discharge of waste water to freshwater which is now considered a non-complying activity. “So the future consenting environments for our wastewater networks is going to be challenging. “Of the 19 wastewater networks that we have, 11 of those currently discharge to fresh- water.” Central to the proposed changes is not only water quality, but also cultural sensitivity regarding discharging the treated wastewater to freshwater. In Maori culture the direct discharge of wastewater to fresh water is considered abhorrent almost regardless of the degree of treatment. Eliminating this practice involves moving to land-based discharge which involves signifi- cant costs. The recently commissioned reconfigured Te Anau wastewater plant is an example of moving to land-based discharge. Treated wastewater from the Te Anau oxidation ponds was previously discharged into the Upukerora River near its confluence with Lake Te Anau, however the Environment Southland consent which allowed this expires in 2023 necessitating an alternative discharge option. “The Te Anau wastewater project is a good example [of the associated costs]; that’s a $27 million project.” The upgrade involved running an 18.6 km pipeline from the wastewater plant north of Te Anau township to the Kepler disposal block below the south end of the lake. The original proposal was to use a pivot irrigation system where the sewage would be sprayed onto rural land beside Te Anau-Man- apouri airport, but following community oppo- sition the council settled on a sub-surface drip irrigation system. “You need a fairly specific set of circum- stances in terms of land-based discharge and finding that available within proximity of an existing treatment facility is not always an easy task.” www.southroads.co.nz Call us on Specialists in: • Drainage • Earthworks • Aggregate supply & cartage • General siteworks and landscaping • Subdivisions & driveways 0800 822 833 Your Contractor of Choice 267 Tramway Road, Invercargill. Phone (03) 211 6000 - Email southland@fultonhogan.com