11 Jan 2025: Tarawera sewerage scheme

Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Tarawera Sewerage Scheme

Enquiry

Can I please double-check what the current estimated cost per household the Tarawera sewerage scheme will be, in lump sum , GST excluded and included?

And how many properties this is? (About 450 or 550?)

And what the funding allocation is? (What Government

Response

We provided the following information:

Current estimated cost per household of the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme:

The specified range per household is $38,000 – $41,700 (excluding GST). The final decision will be made by Council following consultation on the 2025/26 Annual Plan.

Currently, there are 446 properties but part of the costs, eg Stage 1, is spread over 550 to allow for future development.

Funding allocation:

The scheme is partially funded by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Rotorua Lakes Council (RLC) and Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC). The rest of the cost will be met by contributions from the owners of each property that benefits from the scheme:

• MfE: $6.5m
• BOPRC: $750,000
• RLC: $1,485,000 ($2,700 contribution per property (increase from $1,500 which was approved as part of the Long-term Plan 2024-34 decisions). RLC is using its balance sheet for upfront borrowings ($20.2m) to progress the scheme.

Total: $8,735,000m

Note: Council will continue exploring funding and regulatory options to further alleviate the capital cost burden for Tarawera property owners. This will be consulted on as part of upcoming 2025/26 Annual Plan consultation.

Council has already approved re-allocating $2m previously tagged for the Aquatic Centre towards this project.