Ohakune sewage plant price trebled

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 640, 11 June 1996, Page 5

Ohakune sewage plant price trebled

A "complete rethink" of Ohakune' s sewage treatment plant upgrade means it may now cost $830,000, up from the original proposal's price of $270,000. The increase will add $40 to each Ohakune urban ratepayer's bill. Three reasons which rise from objections to the original scheme were given by council engineer Bruce Dobson at the Waimarino Community Board meeting held last Thursday: • Shifting the wetlands area to avoid having to remove a block of about 50 beech trees on the banks of the Mangawhero River. • Enlarging the wetlands area. • Construction of a "high-rate infiltration soakage area", to eliminate any discharge into the Mangawhero River. The increased cost comes from the addition of a pump and irrigation system ($264,700), a step screen ($88,000), and an increase in the cost of the wetlands from $75,000 to $284,800. The objections came from eight parties including the iwi, Ngati Rangi, whose marae is close to the project area. Mr Dobson told the board that while it seemed the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Council did not accept the objectors' concerns, it was likely that some objectors would appeal any decision to grant a resource consent for the original proposal. Another objector is the Auckland Grammar Schooi which owns Venture Lodge in Burns Street. They objected to the treatment plant' s outfall being upstream of two swimming holes that they use. Mr Dobson said with the original proposal the effluent from the plant would be to bathing standards. Two further reasons for resiting the wetlands were because the proposed area is prone to flooding and that the Mangawhero River has been eroding its right bank just downstream of the proposed site, which could damage the wetlands area "some time in the future". At the meeting board member Robert Horne expressed concerns at the population projections on which the proposals were based, after being told by Mr Dobson that it was designed to cope with a peak winter population of Turn to Pase 9

Ohakune sewage plant price trebled

FROM PAGE 5 7500. The peak at present is 6500 and the planners predict a 5-6 per cent increase over the next 10 years. Mr Home said many people were predicting a much faster growth rate and that he was concerned the scheme could be overloaded very soon. Asked what options there were for increasing its capacity later, Mr Dobson said there were several and that they would not be restricted by the scheme as proposed. Mr Dobson said the full impact of the concems of Ngati Rangi had not been able to be assessed earlier in the process because several of their key people were not available for the consultation meeting. At a meeting held on 2 1 May , N gati Rangi representati ve Noel Akapita advised the council that the Iwi objected to the original installation of the existing ponds and that their land had been taken against their will using the Public Works Act. Their current feeling is that no further development should take place around the oxidation pond on their land but that they are open to negotiations. Project consultant Ray Hedgland introduced to the iwi the concept of high rate irrigation, similar to Beachlands/ Maraetai , with continuous discharge and possible overland flow in winter. Iwi representatives expressed favourable comments, although one member was not fully convinced. They requested that the council send a proposal of this new system indicating its dimensions and whether there is a need for use of their land. They could then consider it, but prefer that the proposal does not use any more of their land.