A CONCERNED resident found small eels had been left on a bank after Ōtorohanga District Council cleaned a stormwater drain on Kakamutu Rd, Ōtorohanga. PHOTO SUPPLIED
THREE small eels were buried by Ōtorohanga District Council staff on Tuesday afternoon after they were left on a bank on Kakamutu Rd during routine cleaning of drains. Group manager of engineering and assets Mark Lewis said following heavy rainfall in November, the open stormwater drain near the Hinewai St end of Kakamutu Rd was cleaned in a maintenance exercise by a council contractor. “The normal practice of our contractor and of the council is to make every attempt to return eels to the drain that may be inadvertently removed by the excavator during the cleaning.” After being alerted to the issue on Tuesday afternoon, a council staff member was sent to investigate. “During council’s visit to the site today we found three small eels that [were] not returned to the drain. Staff buried the eels onsite. “All care is taken by council and contractors, staff were satisfied the right protocols were undertaken, and this was a very unfortunate incident.” The eels came to the attention of both King Country News and the council when a concerned resident raised the alarm with the paper. Patrick Carr said he did not agree with the way the eels had been left and was concerned they appeared to have been on the bank from at least Sunday until Tuesday. ŌDC recommends those who notice incidents like this to contact the council through the service request form on its website or call its customer experience team. That way they can be informed directly of what action has been taken in response to their concern, Mark said.
