The “unacceptable” treatment of residents in a South Dunedin street blighted by sewage overflows demands an apology, a councillor says.
Cr Andrew Simms and a selection of other city councillors met with concerned residents yesterday to discuss wet-weather wastewater overflow issues in Surrey St, and left with promises of near immediate action.
Cr Simms, who organised the 90-minute meeting, said the council’s response to the overflows was a “disgrace”.
“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable … this hasn’t been dealt with before, and that those people live every day with the risk of sewage being deposited into their backyards or into their houses.”
There was “no question” the council owed residents an apology over the situation.
“But … we will owe them an apology if we don’t do anything about it.”
Sewage, and occasionally toilet paper and sanitary products, spill into Surrey St when wastewater systems are overloaded during heavy rain.
The council has previously said a permanent solution is tied to the Green Island wastewater treatment plant upgrade, funded late in the council’s nine-year plan.
Cr Simms said residents needed robust solutions until then.
Infrastructure portfolio lead and former mayor Cr Jules Radich attended the meeting and said a series of short- and medium-term improvements had been developed to reduce the frequency of overflows.
Work on some, including overflow mitigation in Surrey St, was expected to begin over the Christmas holiday period.
However, residents at the meeting expressed “utter frustration” at a lack of firm action, Cr Simms said.
“Where we ended up was a real strong feeling that the sewage going into Surrey St needs to be dealt with with a great deal more urgency.”
Crs John Chambers, Lee Vandervis, Russell Lund and Doug Hall also attended the meeting — Cr Mickey Treadwell put in an apology and Cr Benedict Ong did not attend, Cr Simms said.
“I think this new council’s really keen to be seen to be getting things done at a much faster pace than has been the case.”
He expected to put a proposal to the council’s January meeting to address overflows “almost immediately”.
Increasing diluted wastewater discharge into the Kaikorai Stream during flooding was likely to be part of the proposal.
The Otago Daily Times put Cr Simms’ comments to Mayor Sophie Barker last night and asked if the council should apologise to residents.
“The Surrey St wastewater overflows have been a top-of-mind issue for council as we’re all aware of the problem and effects it has on the street residents.
“I have advocated on a number of occasions publicly for these to be fixed and for us to invest heavily in our water infrastructure, which council has been committed to doing.”
She was fully informed of the meeting as she and Cr Radich had previously discussed it.
Prior commitments meant she was unable to attend but Cr Radich debriefed her yesterday.
She “thoroughly respect[ed]” his insights and work on Surrey St and with residents.
The situation was complex — staff had worked hard to find solutions and funding was allocated to address the issues in the short- and long-term, she said.
Cr Radich contacted the ODT last night and said the existing overflow into Kaikorai Stream was already being examined with a “view to optimisation”.
He was pleased with yesterday’s “free and frank discussion” although it did include some harsh words.
He disagreed with Cr Simms’s comments on the council response — “it’s a very complex matter”.
Cr Chambers said he wanted to see flood alleviation work brought forward, particularly sewage overflows, which put people’s lives in danger.
“The current council is a new council and it’s starting fresh to give this problem the priority it deserves.”
Surrey Street Flood Action Group convener Lynne Newell said she was happy to see support from new and some existing councillors.
“At last, we’ve got … some of the councillors who are saying that this is a criminal, morally bad thing to happen.
“We’re not going to wait until engineers or CEOs or whoever decides that it’s time to act.
“We want the council to act now.”