It comes after Cr Niki Gladding blew the whistle on the council by revealing it was considering the move in response to bird strike issues at the troubled wastewater treatment plant’s disposal field.
Cr Gladding has said she was particularly concerned about the council holding such discussions in confidential workshops, particularly when it involved the council using "emergency powers" to discharge the water.
It was a concern shared by Otago Regional Councillor Alexa Forbes, who said she had to find out about the proposal through the media and "channels other than the QLDC".
"I don’t understand why they would not have communicated this as soon as they were thinking about this or why they wouldn’t have discussed it with ORC staff.
"There may be some reason for that, but I don’t understand what it is."
"The information has come from that councillor who’s just chosen to share it, and I think good on her for doing it.
"This wastewater treatment plant has been an issue for a long time — and nothing has seemed to have been volunteered about this issue from QLDC."
Section 330 of the Resource Management Act authorises consent authorities to undertake emergency works on both public and private property.
Cr Forbes said it felt "awfully convenient" that emergency powers were being invoked now when it appeared the QLDC had known about problems with the treatment plant’s disposal field "for ages".
The Otago Regional Council has taken the QLDC to the Environment Court for an enforcement order due to consent breaches at the disposal field, which included surface ponding and the discharge of wastewater outside the consented disposal field area.
Cr Forbes said throughout this process, it had been an uphill battle getting information from QLDC management.
"We do know that the [Resource Management Act] means that we have to be notified within seven days of the activity occurring.
"But we should have had notice ahead of time."
ORC chief executive Richard Saunders confirmed to the Otago Daily Times it had not received prior notification from QLDC about its discharge plans.
"The RMA sets out the requirements for undertaking emergency works.
"We expect QLDC to comply with the relevant sections of the Resource Management Act should emergency works be undertaken."
ORC continued to monitor the quality of treated wastewater being discharged from the plant, he said.
"We will re-evaluate our monitoring programme should circumstances change."
"We acknowledge the council is navigating a challenging situation.
"Like everyone, we want the district council to achieve a positive outcome that protects the health and safety of our communities, waterways, and te taiao [the environment]. We are working closely with the council and stakeholders to explore appropriate wastewater treatment solutions."
QLDC Cr Gavin Bartlett said however that the council had little choice to address the issues.
"As with many issues brought before elected members, there are many competing demands to weigh against each other in order to determine an appropriate course of action.
"Often this may come down to a choice between equally unattractive options."
Cr Bartlett said the discharge option was presented as an interim solution and "appears to be the most cost effective and better option for the district as a whole".
