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Statement on Tarawera Sewerage Scheme

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We acknowledge Lake Tarawera, Rotokākahi and surrounding areas are taonga tuku iho.

We acknowledge that Rotokākahi is a private lake, and is held under the mana of the Rotokākahi Board of Control on behalf of the owners.

The purpose of the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme is to protect the health of the community and the health of Lake Tarawera. Without the Scheme, untreated human wastewater will continue to leach into Lake Tarawera which is unacceptable to all and a priority to address.

Council has been in discussions with iwi and hapū since 2015, beginning with the establishment of the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Scheme Steering Committee which included representatives from Tūhourangi Tribal Authority, Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi, Māori landowners, the Lake Tarawera Ratepayers Association, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) and Rotorua Lakes Council.

In 2018, of the six options considered, the Committee voted to adopt the low-pressure grinder pumps and to connect the new network to Rotorua through the Tarawera Road corridor.

The feasibility of an in-catchment treatment plant at Tarawera was investigated and proven not feasible for a variety of reasons including the availability of land, geological conditions, resource consent challenges and significant additional costs to local and wider communities and the significant delay which would affect the health of Lake Tarawera.

Two Cultural Impact Assessments and an Archaeological Report have been undertaken as well as extensive community consultation with residents and Māori landowners at Tarawera. These reports identified that the road corridor is the least likely to contain wāhi tapu sites of hapū cultural significance, therefore it was recommended to be used for the mains pipelines because the risk of disturbing archaeological sites within the existing road reserves is very low compared to other options.

Direct consultation with Rotokākahi Board of Control has been undertaken since 2023 which has included hui with engineers detailing the works, equipment to be used and how the preferred option was arrived at.

What protections are in place to protect Rotokākahi?

  • Directional drilling (minimal ground disturbance)
  • Continuous welding with strict quality control
  • Conservative design (pipe strength higher than maximum pressures)
  • Pipes pressure tested after installation
  • 17 meters is the closest point from pipe to Lake Rotokākahi
  • Pipe installed 1 meter below road surface on uphill (inside) side of road. (Road typically cut 2 meters below original ground)
  • Once installed, 24/7 pressure monitoring of pipeline which automatically shuts off if there is pressure loss
  • Archaeological monitoring protocols in place (contractors are experienced in identifying any archaeological findings and we have personnel ready to attend in the event any archaeological finds are discovered)
  • Appointment of a Rotokākahi Board of Control appointed Cultural Monitoring personnel at our expense.

Council remains open to consider additional practical options for enhanced protection of this length of the mains line.

We respect all people's right to peacefully protest and we want to reassure our community that arriving at the preferred option was the result of careful consideration of all technical, cultural, financial and planning factors by the council as is required by the Local Government Act.

Tarawera Sewerage Scheme project page
Satellite map of showing the closest point from the pipe to Lake Rotokākahi is 17 meters

17 meters is the closest point from pipe to Lake Rotokākahi.

Frequently asked questions

Council has been in discussions with iwi and hapū since 2015, beginning with the establishment of the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Scheme Steering Committee which included representatives from Tūhourangi Tribal Authority, Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi, Māori landowners, the Lake Tarawera Ratepayers Association, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) and Rotorua Lakes Council.

Council after adopting the reticulation proposal as a draft undertook wide community consultation as part of the Council’s 2021 – 2031 Long-term Plan. No objection to the project was raised and Council approved funding for the adopted option.

In addition to the wide stakeholder consultation undertaken by the Tarawera Sewerage Steering Committee and the Council’s 2021/31 Long Term Plan, direct consultation with Rotokākahi Board of Control has been undertaken since 2023 which has included hui with engineers detailing the works, equipment to be used and how the preferred option was arrived at.

No. The approximately 1.0km length of polyethylene pipe will be installed 1 meter under Tarawera Road, opposite Lake Rotokākahi and fully within Council’s legal road corridor.

The amount of wastewater flows from Tarawera to the main Treatment Plant would be less than 2% of all the flows. The main treatment plant is also currently upgraded to double its current treatment capacity and vastly improve the treatment quality.

The Polyethylene (PE) Pipe has been selected for its strength and flexibility. PE pipes are the best performing as evidenced in the Christchurch earthquake. To get really technical the pipe:

  • Will have a continuous weld with strict quality control in place
  • Is a conservative design (pipe strength higher than maximum pressures)
  • Are pressure tested after installation
  • Once installed, 24/7 pressure monitoring of pipeline which automatically shuts off if there is pressure loss
  • Has a 100-year service life and have been used in Rotorua for water supply and sewer pressure mains for 15 years – PE pipes have not failed in that time.

In 2018 six options were presented to the Lake Tarawera Steering Community Steering Group which included iwi and community representatives:

  1. On-site treatment at each property
  2. A treatment plant at Tarawera
  3. Low pressure grinder pumps + connect to Rotorua through the road
  4. Low pressure grinder pumps + connect to Rotorua across Playne’s Farm
  5. STEP pumps + connect to Rotorua through the road
  6. STEP pumps + connect to Rotorua across Playne’s Farm

Option 3 (low-pressure grinder pumps and to connect to Rotorua through the Tarawera Road corridor) was adopted because:

It ensures that all properties comply with Bay of Plenty’s OSET regulations

  • The most cost effective option for current and future homeowners
  • Supports mana whenua aspirations to return to Tarawera for settlement
  • Avoids identified wāhi tupuna sites
  • Can be implemented quickly as resource consents not required and most effectively addresses the lake Tarawera water quality risk.

Arriving at the preferred option was the result of careful and balanced consideration of all technical, cultural, financial and planning factors by the council.

Yes. Council has committed to implement the scheme and has entered into and is bound by legal commitments and we cannot now re-design or re-route the project. Changing well balanced decisions made some four years ago would come at a significant cost to the Tarawera and wider community who will be responsible for the long term future management and funding of the scheme.

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