Tarawera Sewerage Scheme Funding Update

Sent: Monday, 13 January 2025 4:49 pm
Subject: LGOIMA request - Tarawera Sewerage Scheme funding update

I refer to your LGOIMA request of 1 December 2024 regarding updates on funding for the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme. Please find responses to your questions below:

It states in Doc ID: 21056581 Council and community representatives will continue to seek additional funding support from other possible sources and agencies and before the final targeted rate will be considered.

• Who, or which organisations are the possible sources and agencies that Council can seek additional funding support from?

The Crown and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

• When does Council expect to confirm additional funding contribution?

This is unknown at this time.

• What are the various options that elected members are exploring, to provide cost certainty for the Tarawera property owners?

Options are still being considered and these will be consulted on in due time.

• Will any of the $2M reallocated fund previously designated for the Aquatic Centre be paid towards the estimated $1.32M delay costs from the protest at Lake Rotokakahi ie. Legal, Fencing, Security and Traffic Management?

Council has not made any decision on this yet.

• When will Council make a decision on how to treat those delay costs?

It is expected this will be carried out before setting the targeted rate for the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme.

• Which legislation is established for the requirement of property owners to connect to the sewerage scheme? Please include the complete relevant legislation section with wording, not just the title of the act.

As previously advised, under section 459 of the Local Government Act 1974, the relevant clause that requires properties to connect to a reticulated waste water system is clause 1(a):

459 Council may require owners of land in certain cases to provide private drains

(1) In respect of any land or building within the district, the council may, subject to sections 283 and 294(9) and to subsection (7), by notice in writing, require the owner thereof to do all or any of the following things:

(a) to provide, construct, and lay a private drain from any land or building which is not drained by some drain to the satisfaction of the council, and to connect that private drain with any public drain or watercourse or the sea, as the council thinks fit:

Therefore, if a reticulated wastewater system is available, council can require property owners to connect to the system.

• The fibre optic communication cable between pump stations is currently being drawn through the ducts that were laid in conjunction with the mains. Will this cable be used exclusively for the pump stations, or will it be used by Chorus in the future to connect private households to fibre to replace the copper lines?

The fibre optic cable is for the connection of telemetry systems between pumping stations. This is a sewerage network connectivity link and is critical towards conveying remote data to the sewerage network operator. It has nothing to do with a Telco or Chorus systems.