Pegasus Lake Faces Ongoing Remediation Challenges Amidst Community Frustration
Residents of Pegasus are expressing growing concern and frustration over the ongoing issues with Pegasus Lake, a popular recreational area that has been subject to algal blooms and regulatory breaches. Templeton Pegasus Ltd, the current owner, is facing scrutiny as the community awaits progress on remediation efforts.
James, a resident and member of a local residents’ group, stated that a plan was presented by Templeton Pegasus Ltd last year, but he perceives a lack of subsequent progress. “The community hasn’t heard back from Templeton for some time and there’s a lot of frustration and at times anger,” James commented. He anticipates that the Waimakariri District Council may ultimately need to address the situation.
Fellow committee members Colin Brownlee and Peter Johnston highlighted the lake’s role in attracting people to the Pegasus area.The lake’s issues first came to light in February 2015 with an algal bloom, leading to its closure for recreational use. Investigations by Habitat Canterbury (ECan) in April 2015 revealed that the lake’s weeds had been treated with Diquat herbicide.
In 2020, an infringement notice was issued to Todd property Group, the previous owner, before the subdivision was sold to Templeton Group. An ECan spokesperson confirmed that Templeton Pegasus Ltd holds four resource consents and is currently in breach of the conditions for two of them. The spokesperson also noted that the lake is susceptible to blooms of potentially toxic algae, commonly known as blue-green algae, especially during the summer months.
In a recent development,Templeton Pegasus Ltd,through its consultancy firm WSP,issued a registration of interest last month to explore options for the lake’s remediation.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
