27 May 2025: Tarawera sewerage scheme
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Tarawera Sewerage Scheme
Enquiry
I'd like to just put to the council for response if desired on Tracey McLeod claims sent on Friday to the chief executive. The below is comment from the regional council meeting on Monday.
Councillor Thurston said in Monday’s meeting McLeod had gone to “great lengths to emphasise that costs have been overstated in the scheme.”
Thurston said there were calls for an inquiry and audit.
He believed there could be pushback from both councils on that, but believed some of the statements made and “figures bandied around need to be analysed very closely”.
“I’m starting to get totally confused with the size and the quantum of the figures that members of the community say are grossly inflated, overstated and quite frankly I want to know what the real story is.”
Chairman Doug Leeder agreed some “forensic analysis” was needed to either validate or reject what was claimed.
Corporate general manager Mat Taylor said the information was received on Friday and had not yet been analysed.
Thurston said while that email may have been sent on the Friday, the figures within it had been circulating in the public domain for “a long period of time” and needed to be challenged, acknowledged and “put to rest once and for all“.
If response is desired can I please have this by 3pm, thank you
*Reporter subsequently clarified, when we enquired whether it was the BOPRC CE who received the claims from Ms McLeod or RLC’s CE, that it had gone to both CEs.
Response
From Group Manager – Infrastructure and Assets Stavros Michael:
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has been administering the deed funding for the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes programmes. The Tarawera Sewerage Scheme is not part of those programmes. This scheme has its own separate funding plan.
Rotorua Lakes Council will be considering the scheme’s costs and funding as part of the 2025/26 Annual Plan.
We are aware that the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is aware of Tracey McLeod’s claims on the Lakes programme and is working on a response.
