Source: Radio New Zealand
The Canterbury Regional Council has issued an abatement notice to the Christchurch City Council over the putrid stench coming from Bromley’s damaged sewage treatment plant.
The plant was damaged by fire in 2021 and has since regularly caused a strong sewage smell to waft across eastern parts of the city.
The smell has been markedly worse in eastern and central Christchurch since the start of the year.
The regional council has received more than 4500 complaints during the past month describing a “putrid, sewage-like smell”.
Regional council director of operations Brent Aldridge said Christchurch City Council has been warned about delays in tackling the stench and had a fortnight to come up with a plan.
“Issuing this abatement notice today demonstrates that we are serious about establishing a clear path toward long-term, sustainable solutions for the plant that bring relief to affected communities,” he said.
“As the region’s environmental regulator, Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council) is responsible for monitoring discharges to air, including odour, and ensuring any non-compliance is addressed.
“Environment Canterbury previously signalled to Christchurch City Council that delays in taking effective and timely action could result in the use of statutory tools.”
The Christchurch City Council must provide a plan that outlines short- and long-term odour-mitigation measures by 16 March.
An independent wastewater engineer will review the plan.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
