Tide turns on harbour filth

By STUART DYE

Passengers and tourists have been kicking up a stink about it for years - and for the first time today Fuller's ferries will not dump raw sewage in Auckland Harbour.

The company has been within its legal rights in emptying the contents of sewage tanks directly into the ocean - provided the boat is more than 500 metres from shore and in water deeper than 5m.

Environmentalists say the practice has "little effect" on water quality. But over the years Fullers has been plagued by letters from passengers who have experienced foul smells and often acute embarrassment in front of visitors to "clean, green New Zealand".

Today, the company will connect to the Auckland City sewage system via a new sewage transfer station at the downtown ferry terminal.

It has been built as part of the terminal upgrade and means the ferry can empty its holding tanks while docked, rather than in the harbour.

Fullers marine crew manager Tony Kuyk said vessels had been fitted with the appropriate equipment since 1987 in preparation for transferring sewage for proper treatment.

"Now it will simply be the push of a button while we are docked and 'there she goes' so to speak," he said.

The company, and all other public and private boats, will still be allowed to dump sewage at sea under the Resource Management Act.

Mr Kuyk said Fullers would still do it from time to time when necessary on longer journeys.

"It's probably never going to wash up on Mission Bay beach, but we want to do what is absolutely best for the environment."