On Tuesday 26th we reported that Waikato Regional Council had given a formal warning to Waikato District Council over the Easter sewage spill into Raglan Harbour. The next day Waikato District Council issued a media statement acknowledging the formal warning. See below for full text.
As the WDC media statement didn’t refer to the subsequent two spills I asked them:
“Odd that your media release doesn’t mention the two later spills and claims to have acted quickly, despite it taking several hours for the sewage to rise to the point where it overflowed.
Given these two other spills and the current one still being investigated what are the CEO’s comments on this? This has gone beyond something that the GM should be allowed to comment on.”
A WDC communications person responded saying, “Thanks for your email. Just clarifying that this release was about the Easter spills and WRC’s formal warning to us, rather than any subsequent spill.”
I went back to them saying, “Yes that’s the problem. The release would have been appropriate if the other two subsequent spills hadn’t occurred.
The issue is now that they did.
The WRC letter said: “It is concerning that there is a growing number of formal enforcement actions that have been taken against your [district] council for breaches of the Resource Management Act.
“Each action contributes to the Waikato District Council’s history of non-compliance. We are obliged to take this history into account each time a further breach is identified.”
So on top of this strong indication of how WRC will deal with future formal enforcement actions, WDC now has the prospect of another two that will be added to the growing list.
In view of this it is no longer appropriate for the GM to be commenting. The comments should come from the CEO or Mayor.”
Media Release: Waikato District Council, 27 July, 2016
Waikato District Council acknowledges Waikato Regional Council’s formal warning
Waikato District Council acknowledges Waikato Regional Council’s formal warning, issued yesterday in relation to the Easter weekend wastewater spills into Raglan harbour.
“Council has great respect for the processes and investigations Waikato Regional Council have undertaken to reach this point. We take the formal warning, and the breaches of the Resource Management Act, seriously. We are also extremely mindful of the impacts this spill had to Raglan, its community and its clean, green image,” General Manager Service Delivery Tim Harty says.
“While disappointed with any spill, let alone one to the Raglan harbour, Council is pleased with the quick response staff had to the issue. Council immediately implemented a number of the recommendations made in the AECOM report (An independent report issued by the Hamilton-based business who specialise in engineering consultancy), which Waikato Regional Council also acknowledged when issuing their warning yesterday,” Mr Harty continues.