Rotorua Ratepayers Warn Council over Costs

Press Release, Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers (RDRR), 25 May 2016

The RDRR supports the proposed $29m upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Plant but has warned Council to manage any variation in project costs without further borrowings or rates rises, and not to consider treated waste water discharge options that could double costs.

Dr Reynold Macpherson, RDRR’s endorsed mayoral candidate, said that “The Earth Contact beds and discharge into Lake Rotorua via a dry creek is the only financially responsible discharge option at this point in time.

“But given that this option is opposed by a few small iwi, we urge Council to seek a definitive decision from the Environment Court in the public interest, sooner rather than later. Those who claim that the southern end of Puarenga Bay is a food source are mistaken. The naturally very low pH of the water there is toxic to aquatic flora and fauna.

Rosemary MacKenzie, an RDRR-endorsed councillor candidate, noted that “an alternative discharge option of rapid infiltration beds and piping elsewhere is not affordable. Up to $27m additional costs would be an unacceptable burden on residents and ratepayers and blow the Long Term Plan budget.

“It is also time to cut other related but unnecessary costs. The Terax solid waste project should be abandoned in favor of Vermacast, the Terax CCO disestablished and all recoverable assets used to settle debt. Funding experimental research is not a core service of Council as defined in Local Government Act (2002).

The RDRR acknowledged that spraying treated waste water into the Whakarewarewa Forest had not proved an ideal solution. However, the Council’s creation of the 2019 time constraint was now impeding investigation into alternative solutions and emergency backup systems. A ruling might yet be needed from the Environment Court on the apparent breach of the intent of the 2008 Waitangi Treaty settlement.

ENDS

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