KEY POINTS:
It was 1990, a time when councils "saved up" for the day they could afford a future capital project.
Rodney District Council was convinced that a public sewerage scheme was needed for the Kumeu, Huapai and Riverhead townships.
It reckoned the project could be built by about 1995.
So, it decided to levy a separate rate on properties in those townships.
The idea was that a fund be built up over a period of years to pay for the capital work.
For two years, the rate was collected but the council gave up after residents refused to allow it to raise a special loan to build the scheme.
The money collected was retained in an interest-bearing account for such time when a scheme might win public backing.
No scheme was built and by the end of June the account had snowballed to $776,523.
Yesterday, with a new scheme in the offing, representatives of the townships went to the council to remind them of the 1990 promise.
"The money was paid for a wastewater system we are still waiting for," said Karen Body, of Riverhead Ratepayers' Association.
"We have long memories. Over the years, there have been many new councils, so it's a case of reminding them and getting their confirmation in writing.
"It's fair that the money and interest being held will directly reduce the connection costs of those properties which contributed."
A council staff report said another option was to set the funds against the cost of the project.
However, the residents wanted the cost reduced in relation to the rates paid by individual properties and the council's lawyer saw no legal snags with this.
The council voted for this option.
Karen Body said the amount paid in by the 450 eligible properties may be $1200 on average.
"It was a lot of dough in those days and the fund has accumulated interest so it could be $800,000 by now."
Residents are warming to the idea that, instead of building a treatment plant, they hook up to a Watercare Services trunk sewer. Their neighbours in Waitakere City have.
Cost savings are expected because Rodney towns' wastewater charges work out at $635 a property a year compared with Watercare customers' charges of $325 to $444.
Council chief executive Rodger Kerr-Newell is negotiating with Watercare over the cost of linking the northwest growth hot spots.
He aims to come back to ratepayers with details of connection and operating costs in time for the new year's council budget talks.
Mr Kerr-Newell, who took up his post in February, was surprised to learn about the dormant fund and that despite many years of talking about schemes, the townships still needed adequate sewerage treatment facilities.
"The council even took money off people from their rates - without providing anything," he said.
"No one pays their rates to wonder what's going to happen next."
