A prediction has been made that South Wairarapa people will only start to take an interest in a major revamp of the district's sewage treatment when their rates go up to meet the cost.
It has come from retired Greytown man Alan Wilde, who said he was bewildered to find he was one of only five people who attended a public meeting in Featherston on Tuesday to hear an "excellent presentation" on the district council's planned wastewater strategy.
"There were 12 people from the council, either councillors or staff, and five others.
"I thought that was an atrocious apathy given the meeting was advertised."
Mr Wilde, who lives on Fabian's Rd, said he had made an effort to attend the Featherston meeting as he was expecting visitors on the night the topic was to be aired in Greytown, only to find Featherston people hardly cared less.
"My guess is there will be little interest shown by the people of Featherston until the rate increases start showing up in their rate demands."
Mr Wilde said the strategy had been well worth listening to, although he took issue with some aspects of it, such as the length of time the upgrade would take before it became fully operational.
"The proposal takes about 30 years but you have to ask how many of today's councillors will even be around by then.
"Even half that time is too long but the council has the view there is a fine line separating what is the best environmental solution, and what is affordable."
Mr Wilde said he also questioned whether the urban ratepayer/rural ratepayer contribution to the proposed scheme was fair.
"There seems to me to be a strong farmer influence on council to try to avoid picking up part of the cost."
Council officers had already taken the strategy to a public meeting in Martinborough and were planning a Greytown meeting this week.
Sewer apathy condemned
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