01/12/2005

ODC to ask Kawhia for opinions on wastewater

Does Kawhia really want a reticulated wastewater system?
That is the question for residents from Otorohanga District Co uncil before going ahead with the second stage in their Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme (SWSS) application.
At a Kawhia Community Board meeting on July 28 it was agreed a consultant should be commissioned to start work on the first stage of the application, which could see the council receive a 90 percent subsidy from the Ministry of Health to establish a new wastewater system in the town.
The first stage of the application will cost about $5000 and will identify whether the council is likely to qualify for the funding.
It is expected to be complete by February 2006.
The cost of the second stage is expected to be possibly $20,000 or more - which is why council want to gauge public support before going ahead.
The issue was discussed at a Kawhia Community Board meeting on Thursday November 24, with some board members strongly opposing the project.
Board member Ray Tooman said the issue of a reticulated wastewater system had been raised and opposed many times in the past.
"My question is how long do we have to say no to this? If we say no now does it mean that we have to revisit it again in 10 years time?" he said.
Chairman Alan Rubay also raised concerns about where the waste would be stored.
Engineering manager Dave Clibbery said that while there was no obvious site for the disposal of waste, he considered a reticulated system to be a better option than individual on-site systems.
"The issue is going to be quite touchy. There`s obviously some benefits but there are also some negatives," he said.
One of the benefits would be a decline in the number of on-site septic tank. spills, while a negative is an additional cost to ratepayers.
Mayor Dale Williams said that while the issue of a reticulated system would be quite controversial it is important for the public to have their say.
"We will not form a particular stance on this because it is a public decision, but it would be wrong for us as a district council to not bring up the issue every time there is funding available," he said.
Deputy mayor Hugh Earwaker agreed it was important to raise the issue during the SWSS.
"I think it would be irresponsibie if we (the council) don't consider it when a 90 per cent subsidy is available," he said.
Chief executive David Hall commented on the possibility that reticulated systems could become compulsory in the future.
"You can imagine what people would say in 10 years time if the government says you have to have this wastewater system and there is no subsidy available," he said.
It was decided that public consultation should take place in the form of distributed information, public meetings and a ballot.

Fire damages sacred tree

The life of sacred Kawhia tree Tangi-te-Korowhiti hangs in the balance after a fire during the weekend.
It is thought children playing with fireworks may have cased the blaze.
The large pohutukawa tree situated near the water-front off Kaora St received substantial damage, including burns and broken branches.
Some of the branches were cut away in an attempt to control the fire while others broke as the fire burnt through them.
Tangi-te-Korowhiti is considered sacred to Tainui as many believe it is where the Tainui waka first anchored when it arrived in Kawhia. Others however believe the waka anchored at a nearby tree Te Papa-o-Karewa.
The branches removed from Tangi-te-Korowhiti have since been taken to Waipapa Marae where the Tainui people will decide what to do with them.
It is possible they will be used for carving Maori artefacts.
It is not yet known whether the tree will survive.