Selwyn works to help earthquake-dislocated

The Selwyn District Council is soon expected to fast-track the provision of sections and housing for people who have been dislocated because of the recent earthquakes.

Council staff briefed councillors this week about the commencement of the $50m Pines sewage treatment plant at Burnham. Councillors endorsed that getting the plant underway meant relevant district zoning restrictions were now able to be lifted.

In order to smooth the path for new homeowners in Selwyn, one of the first issues the Council had was how to push through its plans for the 450 hectare consented Pines site.

The Pines will ultimately have capacity to service the growth anticipated by the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) up to 2041, for urban expansion planned in Prebbleton, Lincoln, Rolleston and West Melton.

The UDS and Council forecasts have suggested there will be substantial growth in these areas. Currently Prebbleton and Lincoln effluent is pumped to Christchurch City and in normal times would be treated at the Bromley plant.

The state of the art Pines plant includes sludge-drying facilities and will irrigate to pasture via a series of low profile irrigators. The pasture will in turn be harvested for use as animal food.

Council Chief Executive Paul Davey says some new housing developments had been subject to zoning constraints related to the provision of sewerage within the district. The Council is now expected to formally lift the deferred zoning at its 10 August meeting.

The Council is also seeking a short term variation to its discharge consent with ECan to cover any eventualities.

“More residents will have access to sewer facilities as early as the end of this year, instead of in the latter part of 2012,” he says.

The proposal provided a number of advantages.

“Early access to sewerage will be provided to potential section owners and house builders, investment will be optimised, no long term options are compromised and the equivalent of 4000 Selwyn households will be taken off the stressed Christchurch city system.

“Planning in the Selwyn District is well advanced to ensure the release of further land for urban development and the council has a confirmed programme for the provision of community facilities to match development. With careful coordination between all parties and appropriate risk awareness I am absolutely confident that positive progress can be made,” Mr Davey says.

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