The Franz Josef oxidation ponds will need to be moved due to the risk of the Waiho River. Photo: LDR / Lois Williams
Franz Josef ratepayers have given the thumbs down to plans for a $2.8 million stopbank extension to protect the town's sewerage plant from the Waiho River.
Local members of the joint committee that oversees flood protection for the tourist town voted unanimously last night not to go ahead with the Havill Wall extension.
Instead, the Westland District Council will investigate moving its sewerage ponds as soon as possible.
West Coast Regional Council members of the committee abstained from voting.
The council has already signed a contract with Kanoa to extend the wall, using $1.6 million of government funding, and adding $1 million to rates bills as the local share.
But Westland mayor Helen Lash, who chairs the committee, said ratepayers are already groaning under the burden of flood protection loans, and last night's vote shows they have had enough.
"The rest of the stopbank work they've begrudgingly accepted but this one challenges them; it's another cost, yet another rate ,,, it's not clear that it will save the ponds and they're paying enough already."
The Havill Wall extension was the last job left on the Regional Council's to-do list, in its $10 million upgrade of the north bank flood walls, co-funded by the government.
A NIWA study, commissioned by the council, found the extension would buy more time to move the sewerage ponds but much depended on flood patterns over the next few years.
The existing Havill Wall was built after the ponds were wiped out by the Waiho in flood in 2016.
Lash said since then councils have kicked the can down the road rather than tackle the job of shifting the ponds because the cost is likely to be unaffordable.
Westland mayor Helen Lash says ratepayers are already groaning under the burden of flood protection loans Photo: LDR / Lois Williams
"It's a another huge burden for a small community. We either spread the spread the cost over Westland, or put it on Franz Josef.
"But why should 500 residents fund something that needs to be of a size to service a tourism population of 3500 beds? You can't do that. It's not right that a small rating base has that sort of pressure on them."
The Westland mayor said the council had options for land where the ponds could be relocated, and was beginning work on the plan to move them.
"I have to have a conversation with Wellington - I've spoken to (Tourism Minister) Louise Upston about how we manage this and possible funding from the Visitor Levy - but we have to have a plan in place first before we talk funding."
Regional Council chair Peter Haddock said he would also be seeking an urgent meeting with government ministers.
Regional Council chair Peter Haddock. Photo: LDR / Lois Williams
"The way I see it, the locals didn't feel they should pay the local share for what is a Westland District Council problem."
But the risk was not just to the oxidation ponds, Haddock said.
"We are going to need something in place - if there's no mitigation (the avulsion) could take out the State Highway and the Top 10 Holiday Park."
The government share of funding for the Havill Wall extension could possibly be used instead for 'river training' - bulldozing rock bunds and other temporary measures to keep the river in check, Haddock said.
"I think a yearly sum for river training - that's what we have to talk to the government about. This is more of a South Island and national issue than a local one. There are a lot more beneficiaries of this work than just the residents of Franz Josef."
It was possible the Havill Wall expansion might still go ahead, depending on available funding, Haddock said.
"But the Westland District Council, needs to get onto this really fast, their Long term Plan talks about building the new sewerage plant within nine years and we don't have that long. Time's running out."
Ultimately Franz Josef would remain at risk until the river was released to the south, Haddock said.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
