Monday 20 January 2014

Precautionary closure of section of Tarawera Landing beach while sewerage systems checked

ROTORUA 20.01.14: A 50 metre section of the beach at Tarawera Landing has been temporarily closed as a health precaution by Rotorua District Council (RDC), following a recent sewer line malfunction around public toilet and café facilities.

Tests of lake water samples taken in the vicinity at the time produced variable bacteria results so a portion of the beach was closed on 5 January as a short-term safeguard.

RDC Infrastructure Services group manager Andrew Bell said the area where water tests produced mixed results was isolated to a very small part of Lake Tarawera.

He said around half of the Landing beach area remained open as usual as repeated water tests in those sections of the lakefront were consistently producing safe water quality results.

“An interim fix to the sewer line issue was put in place soon after the council was alerted to the problem,” said Mr Bell. “Septic tanks are now being pumped out regularly and discharged into the sewer system.

“We anticipate it may take a period of time yet before water quality readings improve enough for the whole beach to be reopened, but in the meantime we’ll continue to err on the side of caution so that public health isn’t put at risk.”

Mr Bell said the council was working closely with Toi Te Ora Public Health, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the café’s proprietors to ensure health risks were minimised, and to investigate a permanent sewerage remedy for implementation as soon as possible.”

ENDS

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