17 February 2025
Media: Radio NZ
Topic: Tarawera sewerage scheme
Enquiry
Request for interview to discuss Tarawera sewerage scheme and related protest action.
Response
Rotorua Lakes Council CE Andrew Moraes was interviewed and made the following key points:
1, The reasons behind the pause in the project: obstruction of work and to allow time for further discussion with iwi, mana whenua and the community.
2, The purpose of the Tarawera scheme, which will connect about 450 current properties to a new reticulated sewerage system, is to protect the health of the community, the lake and downstream catchments.
Without the scheme, wastewater from septic tanks will continue to leach through groundwater into Lake Tarawera.
3, The pipeline is installed within the public road and is more than 15 metres away from Lake Rotokakahi. For context, more than 20 kilometres of pipe of similar construction is installed at a similar distance at our other lakes and we have had no incidences of those pipes leaking.
4 An overview of the history of the project and engagement which covered some of the following:
In 2015, Rotorua Lakes Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the Te Arawa Lakes Trust and the community began exploring options to protect the water quality of Lake Tarawera.
The Lake Tarawera Sewerage Steering Committee, which included representatives from Tūhourangi Tribal Authority, Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi, Māori landowners, Lake Tarawera Ratepayers Association, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council, was formed.
In 2018, the committee looked at a number of options for better sewerage management and opted for the option to install low-pressure grinder pumps onto properties and to connect these to a new reticulated sewer system to Rotorua’s main treatment plant via Tarawera Road.
Two Cultural Impact Assessments and an Archaeological Report were commissioned to assess the potential impacts of the scheme.
Iwi and mana whenua indicated that there were a range of cultural impacts likely to result from the installation of a wastewater treatment system but that the negative effects of sewage on the mauri of Lake Tarawera was the most significant impact and something needed to be done urgently.
The archaeological report identified that previous modifications on the road corridor significantly reduced the likelihood of the presence of any significant archaeological features in the path of the pipeline.
Rotorua Lakes Council adopted the project following a request from the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Steering Committee in 2020
5 A summary of the mitigation measures including doubling sleeving of the section of pipeline being laid 2 metres underneath the concrete culverts of the Wairoa stream and a pou tikanga (cultural monitor) appointed by mana whenua to observe the final stage of the reticulation pipeline to give our contractors guidance.
6, Council wants to keep everyone safe when work resumes – residents, motorists, contractors and protestors. We respect the right to protest and recognise there is a diversity of views.
