Raising a stink

Ōpōtiki District Council has warned residents nearby the sewerage treatment ponds that there may be wafting odours over the coming weeks as the scheduled desludging of the ponds takes place.

"Desludging is a scheduled activity each 15 years or so (depending on various factors) and we had it programmed in for the winter months this year. However, with the COVID-19 disruptions, the work was delayed so we are planning to start works in the coming few weeks.

"We really want to get it underway before the warmer weather. Usually the warmer the weather, the worse any odours can be," Ms Lawrie, Chief Executive said.

Council said that they would take the opportunity to carry out other maintenance on the disposal lines, subject to approvals from Heritage NZ.

"The ponds are nearby the worksite for the harbour entrance build so there will be a lot of action on that side of the river in the coming months.

"With all the activity - trucks and cranes and work crews, there will be a bit of disruption in the short term, but I think the long term gains (a harbour entrance and a well-functioning sewer system) will outweigh that," Ms Lawrie said.