Whakatāne District Council is holding a drop-in this Saturday, 30 September to give the Matatā community an opportunity to ask questions about the wastewater project.

The event will be at the Matatā Rugby Club from 10am to 2pm. The session will be in an ‘open-house format’, allowing community members to drop in and out as they please.

The event is an opportunity for locals to view project timelines, environmental and ecological monitoring and understand how the team looks at identifying possible sites for land application. Community members will also be able to learn about how the wastewater scheme will provide positive cultural outcomes, a richer and safer environment for residents, as well as long-term growth and future proofing for the area.

Members from the Matatā Wastewater Co-Design Group (Te Niaotanga ō Mataatua ō Te Arawa) and technical experts will be available throughout the event to discuss and answer any questions residents might have.

Project background
Currently, Matatā does not have a community wastewater scheme, meaning individual landowners are reliant on their existing on-site septic tank system arrangements. These arrangements are proving to be problematic, with septic tank failure creating a public health and safety risk and environmental contamination.

The kaupapa (project) is aimed at developing a fit-for-purpose wastewater scheme for the Matatā community using a co-design model (a first of its kind in the district) working with local iwi and hapū to ensure a collaborative partnership approach at all stages of planning and decision making for wastewater treatment in the area. 

Te Niaotanga ō Mataatua ō Te Arawa Co-Design Group is made up of representatives from the three iwi: Ngāti Rangatihi, Ngāti Awa hapū (Ngai Te Rangihouhiri; Ngāti Hikakino and Te Tawera) and Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, and three Council representatives including two Councillors.