Spill won't delay Bendemeer commissioning

With just two days to go before the commissioning of a major sewerage pipeline replacement, a sewage spill this morning had not caused any setbacks,” Queenstown Lakes District Council engineering general manager Mark Kunath said.

“Unfortunately as we enter the final phases of the $2 million Lake Hayes upgrade, an old, outgoing pipeline at the Bendemeer pump station has suffered mechanical failure overnight,” Mr Kunath said.

The spill was discovered by contractors this morning who acted promptly to get repairs and a clean-up underway.

“We estimate that somewhere in the vicinity of 10,000 litres has been released into the reserve area adjacent to Lake Hayes,’ Mr Kunath said.

Fortunately the quick response meant the spill had not entered Lake Hayes itself.

Repairs were carried out at the pump station and sucker trucks deployed to clean-up the spill.

“The area has now been decontaminated,’ Mr Kunath said.

The episode would not detract from the completion of a significant upgrade that was essential to eliminate an issue of ongoing breakages to the line.

“Regardless of this morning’s mishap, the completion of the upgrade will ensure a vast improvement to a significant piece of infrastructure,” Mr Kunath said.