Otago Regional Council (ORC) General Manager Operations, Dr Gavin Palmer, said the Central Otago site was well positioned to provide safe and environmentally-friendly effluent disposal on a high-impact route.

“This new site benefits not only farmers and stock transporters, but all road users, as untreated, concentrated effluent spillages onto roads is always dangerous and can find its way into nearby waterways, harming the environment,” said Dr Palmer.

The new STED is a part of Otago’s network of eight sites. The site is open ahead of the annual stock moving day on June 1, known in the community as “Gypsy Day”.