Frustrations with the ongoing Wellington Water and Wastewater Trunk Line project have led to a call for a third-party review into how the project has been handled.
Joanna Green, a county resident, made a deputation to county council outlining a series of complaints about how the project has been managed.
Those complaints include cost overruns, major disruption to area residents, missed deadlines, environmental contamination, and damages to the Millennium Trail that haven’t been properly restored.
When discussing the Millennium Trail, it was noted that large amounts of excavated soil were left on the trail grounds, and the trail rebuilt over the piles. This resulted in the previously ground-level trail becoming elevated with steep embankments on either side that made the trail inaccessible to properties that previously backed onto it.
After listing the problems she had with the project, she proceeded to request that the municipality engage in a review of the project to identify how it could have gone so far off the rails.
Councillor Chris Braney agreed with Green’s presentation, saying that the environmental issues caused by the project were of great concern.
“I have to say, everything you’ve said is correct, it’s disappointing,” said Braney. “This whole project’s boggled my mind, and you know as I said previously, for a development to nowhere, we’ve gone through all this pain and finance and inconvenience for residents, it’s been over the top.”
Council accepted the deputation, but took no action at this time.
