Ruakaka South sewer system celebrated with defibrillator gift

Ruakaka Community will receive a new defibrillator as part of celebrations of the successful completion of the $9.5 million Ruakaka South Sewerage Extension project.

Whangarei District Council Contractors Fulton Hogan are giving a defibrillator to the Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Brigade to thank the community for their support on the project, and thank the Fire Service for its flexibility over work done on its land during the sewer upgrade.

“We are part of the community too,” said Fulton Hogan’s Divisional Project Manager Tony King. “The fire service responds to a lot of accidents and incidents in the area and this is our way of saying thanks to them and the entire community.”

Waste and Drainage Manager Andrew Carvell said the Ruakaka Community had embraced the sewerage extension scheme and already recognised the benefits it brings.

“This scheme will protect the environment and public health in the area by pumping wastewater from 470 individual properties to the Ruakaka Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant is also being upgraded to handle the increased volume of wastewater from this scheme, plus growth in other areas. Not only does it help protect the environment and people’s health, it will enable development to proceed where there has been insufficient sewer capacity in the past.”

He acknowledged the support of the local Iwi, Patuharekeke, who provided advice on cultural matters and helped identify areas of historical significance.

“They were one of many organisations that supported and were critical to the success of this $9.5 million scheme. These included the Ruakaka Ratepayers Association, the Ministry of Health who provided $6.8 million, each property owner who paid $10,200 and Council who subsidised each residential property owner by $5,000.

“With 470 properties connected to the scheme, a further four opting not to join now but to allow for it in future, and only one property owner refusing to participate, the project achieved a 99% connection rate.

“The high uptake is a real credit to the Ruakaka Community that recognised the need to do something constructive about the well-being of the local environment,” Mr Carvell said.

“We consider it a resounding success with compliments far outweighing complaints during the construction period.”

ENDS

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