10 February 2011

Managing Septic Tanks in Rural Area

Council's Strategy, Finance and Regulatory (SFR) Committee confirmed its intention to proceed with the On-site Wastewater (septic tanks) component of Bylaw Part 25 today.

Some Pauatahanui residents raised concerns late last year when the Ministry for the Environment decided to withdraw its discussion document on National Environmental Standards (NES) for on-site wastewater systems. The SFR Committee met this morning to discuss these concerns and whether to proceed with its bylaw.

Chairperson Euon Murrell says MfE's decision to withdraw the NES discussion document was partly based on the knowledge that most local authorities had established bylaws to manage on-site wastewater systems so a further level of bureaucracy was unnecessary.

"It's Council's responsibility to make sure all effluent in the city is monitored and managed properly. These systems have to be maintained to ensure the public health and the ecological protection of our harbour. It doesn't matter whether you live on the edge of the harbour or half way up Paekakariki Hill Road. It all flows downhill."

The Council adopted the Bylaw in June 2010 and there are approximately 525 on-site wastewater systems in Porirua. The only additional cost to rural property owners above their routine maintenance costs is $90. This is paid at the same time period that the wastewater system is assessed (usually from three to nine years) unless there is a major operational problem with the system.

"Compliance costs have been reduced in this new Bylaw by enabling a wider range of authorised people to assess the wastewater systems and by providing greater flexibility in the licence term. The $90 will only be charged once every three to nine years depending on what the authorised person recommends."

Rural residents living in unreticulated areas must have approved methods of wastewater disposal to prevent ground pollution and health risks to themselves, their neighbours and the environment.

"We acknowledge that costs are involved in maintaining these systems and this is why rural residents pay substantially less rates than their urban neighbours."

Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett says rural ratepayers receive a 30% discount on their rates. And they don't pay for services they don’t receive such as water services and kerbside recycling.

"To put this in perspective, rural residents with a property valued at $550,000 pay $1000 less in rates per annum than someone living in the urban area owning a house at the same value."

Information on On-site Wastewater Systems is available on the Council's website at www.pcc.govt.nz.

ENDS

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