A recent emergency response to aviation fuel spilled on the Crown Range Rd has prompted the Queenstown Lakes District Council to review its pollution response procedures.
QLDC general manager regulatory and corporate services Roger Taylor asked councillors at yesterday's a meeting to authorise council chief executive Debra Lawson to renegotiate QLDC's contract with the Otago Regional Council in regard to how pollution is handled.
Under the current agreement, the principal obligation falls to the ORC, but the QLDC is responsible for controlling potential effects of use of land and of hazardous substances.
Both councils have powers under the Resource Management Act to undertake emergency works in relation to pollution incidents.
In a report to the council, Mr Taylor said a January incident, where highly flammable aviation fuel leaked from a crashed mini-tanker at "the zigzag" on the Crown Range Rd, had highlighted shortcomings in the emergency response.
He said staff training had been inadequate for the variety of possible pollutants, particularly hazardous substances.
The after-hours response was not well structured, and investigation and follow-up had been limited.
While the main responsibility might lie with the ORC, Mr Taylor said anecdotally the public was relying on the local council to handle pollution incidents, and would hold the QLDC responsible for any failures in responses.
"Consequently, whether we want to be involved or not, it is likely that the community will expect it," Mr Taylor said.
During discussions at the council meeting, Cr Vanessa van Uden said the ORC did not have staff and resources in the Queenstown Lakes district to fully cover pollution responses.
"I agree QLDC could provide the resource. But the overall responsibility should remain with the ORC," Cr van Uden said.
Cr Cath Gilmour said the cost of providing additional resources should not fall on QLDC ratepayers.
Mr Taylor estimated it would cost around $50,000 for QLDC to take over responsibility for the response, train staff and put emergency systems in place.
The council agreed to pursue negotiations with the ORC.
