Queenstown Lakes District Council will seek input from the Glenorchy Community as it pushes ahead to develop plans to
find a suitable solution to meet the township’s sewerage needs.
Council has identified a Gravity-Hybrid reticulation system as the preferred option and work is currently underway to
provide updated potential cost estimates to households to install such a scheme.
After reviewing the available options, Council has identified the Glenorchy airfield as the most suitable site for a
treatment facility and is currently working to ensure access can be agreed with neighbouring landowners and airfield
users.
There is currently no community wastewater treatment system in Glenorchy, with the majority of households using septic
tanks and other means of wastewater treatment and disposal.
QLDC Chief Engineer Ulrich Glasner believes this approach is no longer suitable for the town. “Glenorchy, like the rest
of the Wakatipu, is seeing large population growth. Much of the older wastewater treatment systems are no longer fit for
purpose and run the risk of failing and contaminating the areas waterways.”
“Glenorchy is widely regarded as an pristine place, and we want to keep it that way – we think the best option to
protect the local waterways and lake is a reticulated system that serves the wider community.”
QLDC is currently gathering information on the range of existing systems currently in use in Glenorchy, as well as the
levels of compliance with wastewater standards. QLDC is working through a process to begin investigations into assessing
if any contamination is currently occurring, and if so, at what levels.
Once this information has been provided and assessed, Council will be looking to report back to the Glenorchy community
with an update in late August. This will need to include an estimate of costs and a timeline around when a resource
consent might be lodged.
As a proposed key infrastructure project, any scheme proposal will need to be considered through next year’s Ten Year
Plan process. The Glenorchy community will be encouraged to engage early in the developmental stages of the concept.
ENDS