What’s behind the development of the new wastewater schemes?
The regional council’s (Environment Bay of Plenty)
Onsite Effluent Treatment Regional Plan, has earmarked
Maketu and Little Waihi as “Maintenance Zones.”
Maintenance Zones require an advanced wastewater
treatment system and/or community wastewater
reticulation scheme to treat the effluent to a higher
quality before disposal to ground and/or water to comply
with Environment Bay of Plenty’s requirements.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council is assisting
communities located within maintenance zones by
investigating suitable community wastewater schemes.
Will these communities be opened up for growth
once a new wastewater scheme is in place?
SmartGrowth – the 50 year plan to manage growth in
Western Bay and Tauranga – has identified that little
growth will occur in Maketu, Little Waihi and Pukehina
over the long term.
Will properties be able to subdivide in the future?
Under Council’s District Plan, which contains rules
around what can and can’t be done when it comes to
development in your backyard, street or community,
properties will not be able to subdivide to less than 800
square metres once the new wastewater scheme is in
place.
Once the new scheme is built what impact will it
have on improving water quality and the environment
in general?
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council is working
with Environment Bay of Plenty to ensure that treated
effl uent from the proposed new wastewater treatment
plant meets the required water quality standards before it
is disposed into the environment.
To this end, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council
is looking at the most economical or, lowest – cost
scheme that, when properly maintained, is friendly to the
environment.
Is any help available from central government to pay
for the scheme?
The Ministry of Health has provided $10.5 million towards
a community wastewater scheme.
Environment Bay of Plenty has offered an additional $1.6
million.
Total existing subsidies are $12.1 million.
The current subsidies will approximately cover a third of
the overall wastewater scheme costs.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council will continue
to examine opportunities for additional sources of funding
as the scheme progresses.
What if I’m building a new house and need to put
in an on-site wastewater system? Will I be able to
use this system with the new wastewater scheme?
Will I be reimbursed for this system if it cannot be
used?
Some new systems may be able to be refurbished
to meet the primary treatment requirements of the
wastewater treatment system.
It is unlikely there will be additional funding to help pay
for existing systems that cannot be used with the new
scheme.
What if there is a maintenance problem or no
electricity to run the new system?
The new system will offer 24 hour storage in the
unlikely event that a problem does occur it should be
fixed by Council within 24 hours.
Little Waihi Wastewater Question and Answers
1) Why has Council priced two different wastewater schemes: A) Maketu and Little Waihi and B) Maketu, Little Waihi and Pukehina?
A) Maketu and Little Waihi Wastewater Scheme – these two communities are in Maintenance Zone within Environment Bay of Plenty’s On-Site Effluent Treatment Regional Plan 2006 (OSET Regional Plan 2006).. The areas are subject to change current methods of wastewater disposal. Maketu and Little Waihi were also given a government subsidy (Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme - SWSS) from the Ministry of Health and Environment Bay of Plenty to make the new wastewater scheme more affordable..
B) Maketu, Little Waihi and Pukehina – Pukehina was included because the first wastewater design was for a ‘conventional system’ for all three communities. This system is similar to the wastewater system at Te Puke where all of the sewage is pumped to an established wastewater treatment plant.
A recent review of the cost for a ‘conventional system’ highlighted that other options, like a STEP/STEG (Septic Tank Tank Effluent Pumped/ Septic Tank Effluent Gravity) system is more economic and efficient.
2) In the current Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP), covering the period 2006 – 2016 Council says the costs for the scheme are $32million. Why have the changed different from the costs given in the latest draft plan, which covers the period 2009-2019?
Costs were reviewed. Part of the review looked at a new wastewater scheme option called ‘STEP/STEG’. STEP/STEG is significantly less to build and the treatment plant can be staged for future growth.
3) Is Pukehina going to be in a Maintenance Zone in the future?
Pukehina is not in a one of Regional Council’s Maintenance Zones and doesn’t have the same wastewater disposal requirements as Maketu and Little Waihi. The Regional Council has said it is unlikely that Pukehina will be added to a Maintenance Zone in the near future.
4) If Pukehina is not included in the new wastewater scheme, will Pukehina be added at a future date?
To allow Pukehina to be connected now or in the future, Council plans to place a sewer main under the Little Waihi estuary when the proposed wastewater scheme is built.
5) Can you explain what the Uniform Annual Cost is and what does it include?
The Uniform Annual Cost or UAC is the cost that residents will need to pay for the new wastewater scheme. The UAC is made up of two parts:
a) capital cost to repay the new wastewater scheme (approximately a third of the UAC), and;
b) Operation and maintenance cost to operate and maintain the new scheme (approximately two thirds of the UAC).
6) Will residents have the option of paying for the capital portion up front, to reduce their UAC?
Yes, up to the end of the design period (approximately 6 months before construction).
7) Do we have the option of installing an advanced onsite treatment system and not connecting to a community scheme?
If the proposed wastewater scheme is installed, households will be required to connect to the Council scheme even if they have an advanced treatment system. Some advanced treatment systems may be able to be used in the new Council scheme, but this is not guaranteed.
8) What are the consequences for Maketu and Little Waihi if a Council scheme doesn't proceed?
If your property is identified on the maintenance zone in the current OSET Regional Plan 2006 you have until 1 December 2010 to improve the discharge quality of your effluent.
For further information please call Environment Bay of Plenty 0800 368267 or check their website: www.envbop.govt.nz
9) Does Council have written confirmation of subsidies from Central Government and the Regional Council?
Yes