Residents living near a damaged wastewater plant in Christchurch are anticipating compensation promised by the council for having to put up with a stench from rotting material.
Bromley wastewater treatment plant. Photo: Screenshot / Christchurch City Council
Sulphuric fumes from the plant have been affecting thousands of people in Bromley and surrounding suburbs since a fire in November last year.
Councillors received a briefing from staff yesterday on different options to support residents, and will confirm plans next week.
Tracey Mcdonald, who lives near the back of the plant with her partner and two children, said she's had constant headaches for months, and is dealing with a sore throat and runny nose from the stench.
"It's starting to get really depressing living here, I feel like we've got a real raw end of the deal."
"You hang your washing outside ... we're using the dryer a lot more because the smell just gets into any little bit of material."
Mcdonald plans to buy an air purifier to help with the smell, and thought at the very least the council should pay for power for residents.
"Power's not the cheapest in the middle of winter, so I would say $50 to $100 a month."
Paul Durie, who lives about 2km from the plant in South New Brighton, is worried the council won't front up with support for anyone beyond Bromley.
"They used very deliberate wording when they said 'immediate vicinity,' and that doesn't really cast that wide of a net in terms of the support that they're offering."
"They'll draw a circle around it and say 'this is what we'll help.'"
Durie said all of the eastern suburbs in Christchurch are affected by the smell, and deserve compensation.
"I'd hope that they would spread it to everyone that's affected. All of us are putting up with this."
In a statement, Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel said the costs being incurred by residents to manage the smell needed recognising.
"Residents living near the plant are bearing the brunt of the stench," she said.
In a meeting led by Bromley residents last Friday, councillors suggested laundry vouchers, rates reductions and paid-for trips out of town as some potential support options.
Councillors will finalise the community support package in a public finance meeting next Thursday.