PLAN B: The discharge from Kaitaia's oxidation ponds was pumped on to farm land on 2010, when the Awanui River fell to such a low level that it could not safely receive it. PICTURE / DES MAHONEY
PLAN B: The discharge from Kaitaia's oxidation ponds was pumped on to farm land on 2010, when the Awanui River fell to such a low level that it could not safely receive it. PICTURE / DES MAHONEY
Kaitaia resident Des Mahoney has no doubt that the Far North District Council's elected members have seen photos of the town's oxidation ponds discharge being pumped on to farm land during the drought of 2009/10.
The photos, he said, portrayed the failure of councils past and present to come upwith a sustainable solution to the effects of drought, but more importantly, he wondered if the "present influx of infrastructure staff" had a contingency plan should the river fall to such a low level that it could not safely receive the discharge again this summer.
"Or is it a matter of hoping like hell that they won't have to do anything?" he asked.
"If there is a plan, when are the ratepayers going to be told about it?"
"If this dry spell continues, will the council be supplying water by tankers for farm stock, as has happened many times before, at huge cost to the ratepayers?"
Mr Mahoney believed the council's infrastructure staff had done nothing to address Kaitaia's water and sewage issues, apart from blinding the elected members with science.
"It's interesting that this council has Opus applying for consents for the Sports Hub in Kaitaia to the tune of $2.5 million, but there's no capital budget for water upgrades in Kaitaia or Te Kao," he added.
The district council's policy is not to respond to questions or criticisms from Mr Mahoney. Editor.
