Re: GDC regulatory system remains broken, September 30 column.
John, as a parent associated with the Tairāwhiti surfing team, I reached out to GDC on the proposed wastewater discharge at Midway Beach in relation to the New Zealand Scholastic Surfing Championships. The explanation provided made great sense and I have nothing but praise and gratitude for the staff involved.
Our wastewater system is a complex beast and has complexities both on land and at sea. I knew there would be a solid rationale for taking the steps that were being proposed by GDC, especially when it includes the discharge of treated wastewater at Midway Beach. And that’s why I reached out to GDC — I wanted to understand the situation in more detail, and they provided that willingly and openly.
If the outfall pipe needs to be fixed, and we can fix it in a way that minimises harm to people, the environment and the entire wastewater system, then yes — let’s do it. This was, and still is, GDC’s intentions. That, in my view, is a local authority doing its job and doing it well and thoughtfully. I fully support what GDC are trying to achieve, acknowledge the complexities they are dealing with, and thank them for their leadership on this matter.
This is a situation of “a little bit of pain for long-term gain” in terms of the outfall pipe. (Please do not take this out of context: I do not like an ocean sewage discharge; however, this is the situation we are in and how our current wastewater system is designed — for now).
