Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Otago Fish & Game are adamant the proposed stormwater project will benefit the creek and involving the community is not necessary.
In late February, the council applied for a non-notified consent to begin earthworks that would see an outlet control structure installed with the aim of easing stormwater overflow in the creek.
This was proposed as an "interim solution" while the council tried to find a long-term solution for the occasional flooding that took place in the location.
This action upset members of the community who lived near the creek or had invested their time and energy to help it flourish.
Wanaka Retirement Village resident Mary Gray, who lives alongside the creek, was one local who came forward at the time to express her disappointment at the lack of notice and community involvement.
Nancy Latham, former president of Friends of Bullock Creek and a nearby resident of the creek, was also outraged by the surprising consent application and even applied to be an affected party to get more information on the proposed earthworks.
It was clear at the time the community was demanding more clarity on the results of the earthworks and how they would be beneficial.
They had concerns around whether stormwater would impact the creek’s water quality and the trees that would have to be removed for the earthworks to take place.
Although QLDC is not sharing specific information until its consent is processed by the Otago Regional Council, Otago Fish & Game operations manager Jamie Ward said the current plans would not see any stormwater channelled into the creek or Lake Wanaka.
"This polishing wetland, as it’s being designed, is to catch spillover before it enters Bullock Creek, and won’t specifically flow out of this wetland into Bullock Creek," he said.
He clarified that Otago Fish & Game, who owned the land, was in support of the proposal as it felt it would allow for more planting, which would help soak up stormwater and allow it to then evaporate.
"This is an enhancement on what’s already there around the risks presented by overflow. So it’s not, in our view, going to make anything worse. It’s going to make it better," he said.
When questioned about the lack of community engagement, he said that aspect of the consent process was not up to Otago Fish & Game.
It fell into the hands of QLDC, who had said it felt the project did not require public notification.
As the landowners, Otago Fish & Game reviewed the design proposed by the QLDC and felt that it would offer the location more protection, Mr Ward said.
"It’s kind of unusual because we’re not technically a community body, but we’ve given community access to this special place."
Although he acknowledged and appreciated the community attachment to the creek, when it came to decisions like that, the line had to be drawn somewhere, Mr Ward said.
"It’s like there’s always community senses of ownership with certain things and I suppose the authorities have to draw the line somewhere ...
"If someone treasured a tree in your backyard that you were entitled to cut down, did they need to consent?"
