A “further and final extension” to the deadline for constructing a Ministry of Health-subsidised sewerage reticulation scheme in Matatā has been approved by the Associate Minister of Health, the Hon. Jo Goodhew.
Mayor Tony Bonne and Whakatāne District Council Chief Executive Marty Grenfell met with Ms Goodhew and senior Ministry officials last week to seek a deadline extension, which would allow a formal consultation process to be undertaken with Matatā property owners (and other ratepayers connected to sewerage schemes throughout the District), before a final decision is made on how to proceed.
In a letter to the Council, Ms Goodhew acknowledged the challenges the Council has faced in its attempts to develop a sewerage reticulation solution for Matatā. However, she noted that the subsidy available had already been increased from $3.5 million to $6.7 million and the deadline for completing the project extended by a year till 30 June 2014.
“I understand that even with its best efforts, Council will not be able to meet that deadline. I have therefore agreed to a further, and final, extension. I strongly encourage Council to make every effort to take advantage of this and ensure Matatā receives a safe and sustainable wastewater treatment and disposal system.”
Ms Goodhew said that although the extended deadlines were tight, they were achievable, providing the resource consent process was not unduly delayed.
Mayor Bonne says the deadline extension is “a lifeline” for the project. “The Ministry of Health subsidy offered for the proposed sewerage reticulation scheme represents a significant commitment by the Government to support our District and the Matatā community. We know that this is a final chance and we will work closely with the community to ensure that the right decision is made and the project deadlines are met.”
The Council is currently assessing three Matatā sewerage options:
- Partial reticulation to serve some 58 properties in low-lying areas where the high water table makes septic tank soakage fields ineffective;
- Full reticulation serving every property in the community; and
- Taking no action and leaving the proposed inclusion of Matatā as a Bay of Plenty Regional Council Maintenance Zone for Onsite Effluent Treatment to guide future improvement actions.
The Ministry of Health subsidy for the development of sewerage reticulation in Matatā was first approved in 2004. The proposal was placed on hold after the debris and flooding disaster of 2005 and revived in 2008. Since then, changes to the project scope to address local concerns about the disposal of treated effluent have seen the estimated cost increase to more than $10 million, with the Ministry of Health subsidy capped at $6.7 million. The previous deadlines for using that subsidy required a start to construction by June 30 this year, with the scheme to be completed and commissioned by 30 June 2014.
The new deadlines require the Council to:
- Notify the Ministry of Health of its decision on which scheme will be implemented (full, partial or none) by 30 May 2013;
- Proceed with a request for tenders for the construction of any proposed scheme by 31 December 2013; and
- Confirm that construction of a full scheme is underway by 30 June 2014, OR
- Confirm that a partial scheme has been constructed and commissioned by 1 December 2014.
Community feedback on the proposal will be sought in conjunction with the Council’s draft Annual Plan 2013/14 consultation process. That will include a request for submissions from all ratepayers, because the Council’s funding policy “equalises” the cost of sewerage reticulation across all properties connected to wastewater schemes (excluding Murupara). The construction of a full reticulation system in Matatā would increase the cost of the District-wide sewerage rate by approximately $45 a year (from 2015/16 onwards), while a partial reticulation scheme would add approximately $10 a year to the sewerage rate. The submission period will extend from 11 March to 12 April 2013, inclusive.