Queenstown Lakes District Council wanted permission to discharge wastewater overflows into freshwater, including Lake Wakatipu. Photo: Getty ImagesAn application for the Queenstown-Lakes District Council to release discharge wastewater overflows into freshwater bodies such as Lakes Wakatipu and Lake Wanaka has been declined by independent commissioners. In April the Queenstown Lakes District Council applied for a 35-year permit to discharge from its wastewater network when blockages, breakages, system failures, extreme storm events, and over-capacity in the council's network of pipelines occurred. Freshwater bodies affected include Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka, Hawea and Hayes, the Kawarau, Shotover, Clutha, Hawea, Cardrona and Arrow rivers and Luggate Creek. The regional council said it would not comment during the appeals period.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 20, 2019 02:26 UTC