Love affair chokes the Coromandel Peninsula

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Coromandel Peninsula's roads, sewerage and water systems are struggling to cope with an unprecedented building boom and a summer influx that sends the population soaring by 565 per cent.

The Thames Coromandel District Council is to spend $100 million over the next three years on infrastructure to catch up with growth. Transit New Zealand is promising solutions for State Highway 25, which winds around the peninsula, its narrow stretches littered with one-way bridges.

Many residents and business people say it is about time, but question if it will be enough.

Developers want moratoriums in Tairua and Pauanui lifted so new subdivisions can go ahead - but before that can happen a new waste-water plant is needed. Businesses want roads improved to make travelling easier and safer for tourists.

Ferry Landing resident Dal Minogue, who is running for mayor this year, said nobody predicted such fast development. "And if you don't have your infrastructure in place you can end up in an awful mess."

Environmental groups want more attention paid to the impact development is having when the infrastructure fails to keep pace.

Cleanwater Whangamata spokesman Paul Shanks said the council had underplayed the problems for too long. "The infrastructure has been hiccuping for the last decade and all they [local authorities] have been trying to do is stall and hold people off so they can continue to build without having to spend any money. But ultimately it's the environment that pays."

The council says it has an unusual problem trying to find ways to cope with a population which escalates so widely during the year. "What we are sure of is that the love affair with the Coromandel will continue," said spokesman Peter Hazael.

The council says a proposed new levy will force developers to pay a fairer share of the cost of new infrastructure, and ensure the needs of the community are met in the future.

Whangamata

Waste-water: Cleanwater Whangamata claims the waste-water plant reached capacity in 1992 and has been in crisis since 1997. It wants a moratorium on development until there is a new plant.

The Thames Coromandel District Council is consulting the community to work out the best treatment options. The estimated cost is $6 million to $7 million, with construction planned for 2005-2006.

Water: Over the holiday season, the town's population increases from 4000 to 49,000 and gets perilously close to running out of water. The council is working to develop new bores, with the first stage due to be completed before Christmas.

Further work, including extra reservoirs, will be done next year. The cost will be $4.2 million.

Tairua/Pauanui

Waste-water: Pauanui residents have complained in the past about a putrid stench wafting from the overloaded waste-water treatment plant.

Since September 2000 a moratorium has prevented subdivision and development until the plant is upgraded. The council says work has been done to increase the capacity of the existing plant and improve the quality of treated effluent.

Construction of a new plant is planned for 2005 at cost of $9 million to $10 million.

Water: The area experiences severe summer water shortages. Work on alternatives should be completed in the next three years. The estimated cost is $10 million to $11 million.

Whitianga, Hahei

Waste-water: In Whitianga, the system is coping, but there is concern that additional pressure from new developments will place too much pressure on it.

The council is consulting the community on options for a new plant costing $6 million to $7 million.

Hahei residents have raised the possibility of a moratorium on development because the sewerage system has reached capacity.

Coromandel town

Roading: State Highway 25 winding around the Thames coast is a particular problem. Debate has raged over whether the narrow highway, which is used by logging and mussel trucks, should be widened, threatening pohutukawa trees.

In April a group of residents threatened to chain themselves to the trees when Transit released a report saying 56 trees would be felled.

Thames

Storm-water: The town has a long-term flooding problem and a storm-water programme is under way.

Environment Waikato and the Thames Coromandel District Council have developed a $11.5 million plan to reduce the risk of damage in Te Puru, Tararu, Tapu, Waiomu-Puhue and Coromandel.

Roading: The 75-year-old one-lane Kopu bridge is notorious for traffic jams. The Regional Land Transport Committee hopes a new bridge will be built by 2007.

Building consents

Increase 2001-2003

Coromandel- 70 per cent

National average - 13 per cent