Bird strikes and a failing wastewater scheme
The territorial authority selected our proposal to re- activate a previously used discharge channel. We then deployed subcontractor excavators engaged for the environmental site investigations to clear vegetation from the channel. This bought needed time (possibly up to five years) for the company and government regulators to develop a longer-term solution to the wastewater challenges. Lessons learned from Queenstown The need for flexibility was key. The complicated drama on the ground pushed us to make small and larger adjustments, including re-booking flights for team members to bring in team members on short notice. Malfunctioning telemetry sensors, needed to monitor the discharge, resulted in another team being pulled off their assigned task to troubleshoot recently installed equipment. With ongoing protests and intense media coverage, the company leaned on more experienced staffers, realising they were more likely to remain composed in tense situations. Moving forward, rapid housing expansion and the geographic makeup of the Queenstown region will prove challenging. But the experience of executing an emergency response in a high-pressure environment can earn companies and governments the trust and room to maneuver over the longer term.
In Queenstown, the bird strike drew further attention to a failing wastewater discharge scheme. Where there should have been a gravel bed next to the main runway, there was instead a pond that attracted birds, creating a risk to airplane engines. The territorial authority came under pressure from the local regulator, the airport and the public to deal with the situation. For our part, we had already been studying the discharge issue in the river after securing a contract in October of 2024 to address long-term wastewater challenges. The situation soon bubbled to the surface. Local media probes alleged there were higher-than-reported levels of wastewater contamination. That led to protests and more media attention. Photographers hid in bushes and social media bloggers sought “gotcha” moments with workers who were conducting testing. Complicating perceptions of the wastewater issue, “Heart of the Beast,” an action film starring Brad Pitt, altered its planned shoot in the Kawarau River. Some crew members told local media they had reservations about the sewage; Pitt himself was reportedly concerned about the river’s depth. The pressure was on. Within about a week, we proposed four possible short-term solutions. Each could be implemented in a matter of weeks and would allow GHD and the water authorities to manage the discharge and restore public confidence.
Nexus Magazine | GHD | 27
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