Mayor calls for plan comments

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 388, 28 May 1991, Page 14

Mayor calls for plan comments

From page 7 no simple investigation. The Council's Technical Services staff have spent a great deal of time on the project to' ensure the supply andv method of treatment is right for the town. In Taumarunui a decision by the former borough council to treat water from the silt-laden Ongarue and spend three million dollars in the process has angered many of the residents there, many of whom are most unhappy with their water. We have a good source of supply for Ohakune - all it needs is the correct treatment. The council has to be sure the decisions made now are the right ones so that the hundreds of thousands of dollars that will be

spent are spent properly. Now that a very thorough investigation has been undertaken and all alternative intake sources examined, including the Mangateitei Stream (which is unsuitable due to pollution by toxic substances from carrot washers) the siting of a treatment plant and reservoir at the Mangawhero camping ground site (off the mountain road), drawing water from the present intake on the Serpentine Stream, is clearly the favoured option in terms of cost and engineering feasibility. • However, the council must receive the permission of the Department of Conservation to construct the treatment plant in the camping ground area.

Obviously it is hoped permission will be granted, after all the National Park and Ohakune are dependant an each other and the benefit to one is to the other. It is still intended disinfection be by means of ultra-violet light with a back-up chlorination system rather than by full chlorination Raetihi zone change and the meat processing plant This is another issue that is beginning to drag out as a result of AFFCO indicating its intention to appeal the Scheme Change approved by the District Council last month. Apparently the appeal is being Iodged because 'AFFCO was not per-

sonally notified of the Scheme Change' and there was a procedural problem concerning the Council's delegation of its officers powers. I am certainly of the view as are Council officers that there was no need whatsoever to notify AFFCO of the proposed zone change. While I concede the zone change was implemented to provide for the establishment of a meat plant on the George StreetXParapara Road site, it did not automatically mean that the plant would be established there. The zone change provides for the establishment of other manufacturing industries as well. If AFFCO is correct in its contention that it ought to have been notified about the proposed zone

change, then it could be argued other possible manufacturer should have been notified as well. That is plainly ridiculous. Council did personally notify all those residents in the Grey Street, George Street, Islington Street, Alexandra Road areas, of the proposed zone change. I certainly don't believe, nor does our technical Services Division that we should have notify other industrial or commercial operators 80 and 90kms away. It appears no further progress can be made until the Tribunal has heard the appeal and made a decision. In the meantime we sit back and wait patiently.