Mayor considered resigning over ‘deeply embarrassing’ sewerage state

Clutha officials say they considered resigning during an investigation into multiple sewerage network failures that led to an almost $500,000 fine this week.

In the Dunedin District Court on Monday, the Clutha District Council was fined $488,253 plus costs for "egregious" failures in managing its wastewater treatment plants.

• DCC has faith in contractor

The fine relates to charges under the Resource Management Act arising from failures at plants in Owaka, Stirling, Kaka Point, Lawrence and Tapanui, first identified in November last year.

The failures led to raw effluent entering several waterways for months.

Speaking to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan and chief executive Steve Hill both said they had "considered their positions" during an internal review of the failures.

Two further staff — believed to be in managerial positions — had been disciplined as a result of the review and one had since left the council, Mr Hill said.

"The council has conducted an assessment of others’ and my own contributions to this situation, and due consideration has been given to my position as part of that process."

Mr Cadogan said the council had become a stronger organisation as a result of what had been a "deeply embarrassing situation", by which he had been "rocked to the core".

"I take my personal responsibilities to the community I represent very seriously.

"You couldn’t be human and not question your role in something like this.

"It’s weighed heavily on all of us."

During Monday’s hearing, council wastewater contractor Citycare pleaded not guilty to 12 charges relating to the case.

Until that case was resolved next year, the council could not comment in any detail on possible responsibilities for the failures, Mr Hill said.

However, he said the plant failures had occurred due to "questions of contractual responsibility for maintenance of the plants, and underlying failures in the council’s management and oversight of the contract with Citycare."

"Absolutely it’s council’s position we entered into a contract to maintain the wastewater plants. I don’t think that’s unreasonable to state, but at this stage we won’t comment further."

Citycare’s initial contract with Clutha was worth $4.4 million a year.

Mr Hill said the fine was covered by insurance, for which an excess of $5000 would be paid from existing reserves, at "no direct cost" to the ratepayer.

Mr Cadogan said the less tangible effects of the situation were far more serious, however.

"It’s not about the financial effects, it’s about our moral, cultural, social and environmental responsibilities, and those are things that have weighed heavily on us for the past year."

He emphasised the council had taken the situation "extremely seriously" from the moment it came to light.

Mr Hill said the majority of issues had since been eliminated, or were close to meeting compliance.

"We haven’t let the question mark over the contract stop necessary works being done through our contractor.

"Citycare, the council, and Otago Regional Council have worked closely to address the issues identified."

Mr Cadogan said the council had established new reporting regimes to ensure goals were met, and prevent a future recurrence.

"It’s been our determination to bring the plants up to standard as quickly as possible.

"In compliance terms, it’s our heartfelt intention to be exemplary from now on."