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Summer community consultation on Ruakaka South sewerage
Media Release
28 December 2011
Summer community consultation on Ruakaka South sewerage scheme extension
Whangarei District Council has been granted up to $6.8million by the Ministry of Health to provide a sewer network to service Ruakaka South and will be holding a further public meeting on 7 January to discuss the implications and benefits of the scheme.
“We have a permanent resident population in Ruakaka, but the population of our coast expands greatly in summer, so we want to include the wider community in this consultation as well,” said WDC Wastes and Drainage Manager Andrew Carvell.
“The scheme aims to help solve potential public health and environmental risks posed by the number and condition of septic tanks servicing the 470 residential properties in the area.
“In addition to the government subsidy Council has provided an additional $5,000 per residential property to bring the cost to each household connecting to the scheme down from an estimated $28,000 to $10,200.”
Mr Carvell said a public open day was held in Ruakaka on Saturday 10 December to discuss the scheme. Most of the 77 who attended supported the project but a number of concerns were raised about cost, the need for the scheme, and the consultation process.
“We recognise the cost of the scheme will pose difficulty for some residents so we will work with people on a case by case basis to address problems if they arise,” Mr Carvell said.
Council has sent feedback forms out to affected residents and will hold the public meeting on 7 January at the Ruakaka Surf Life Saving Club, starting at 2pm.
“We will review public feedback in February to assess community support for the scheme,” said Mr Carvell. “If the scheme proceeds construction work will commence in July 2012 with aim to complete in May 2013.”
Ruakaka South is one of the last non-reticulated urban communities on the Whangarei coastline. With schemes being built in Oakura, Tutukaka, Whangarei Heads and Langs Beach there has been a significant improvement in public health environmental protection in recent years. We want to achieve that same success in this area.”
ends
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