Ohura Rejects Referendum Proposal to Close Water Treatment Plant

The Ohura community has voted against the proposal to close down their Ruapehu District Council (RDC) operated water treatment plant in a postal referendum that ended today.

The binding referendum required 75% of all voters to support the proposal for it to succeed.

The preliminary result from Electionz.com who ran the postal referendum is that 29 people have voted in favour of the referendum to shut down the existing water treatment plant and 61 people have opposed the referendum proposal.

The voter return is currently 80.3%, being 90 voting papers returned, excluding special votes.

There are nine special votes awaiting verification.

RDC Mayor, Don Cameron, said that he wanted to thank everyone who took part in the referendum and the Ohura community for their consideration and involvement.

“Council recognises that this has been a difficult and at times divisive issue for the community.”

“Now that the community has spoken we ask that all sides accept the outcome and work together for the benefit of Ohura,” he said.

“Council fully accepts the referendum result and is committed to fulfill our obligations to continue to operate the water treatment plant.”

Mayor Cameron noted that the failure of the referendum proposal does not change the core issues that brought it about in the first place.

“As was widely communicated prior to the referendum continuing with the current water treatment plant will mean rate increases for Ohura ratepayers.

Council will work hard to ensure that these can be kept to a minimum however the underlying issues including; aging infrastructure, low quality source water and a declining local population will inevitably mean large rate rises in the years ahead.

Mayor Cameron added that council was going to need to think carefully about the implications of the referendum and where to from here, especially around those Ohura ratepayers who are already having difficulties with their current rate demands.

“The issues Ohura is facing around the sustainability of its water supply is true for many small communities around NZ.”

“These issues have become increasingly problematic and are the type of thing that can create a strong political need for legislative change.”

“In the interim council and the Ohura community need to work together to make the best of an imperfect situation.”

ends

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