Lake Tarawera sewerage scheme project funding options in early stages

Options are being looked into for the funding of the proposed Lake Tarawera sewerage reticulation and treatment scheme. PHOTO/FILE

With the proposed Lake Tarawera sewerage scheme estimated to cost $17.8 million, it is anticipated Tarawera residents alongside regional and district councils will make up the difference, after the government grant of $6.5m towards the project.

Rotorua Lakes Council group manager infrastructure Stavros Michael said the council was in the early stages of the proposed project, with the community-led steering committee.

"This includes council and other stakeholders working through options, including comprehensive scheme funding options."

He said the application to the government's Freshwater Improvement Fund was their first funding application for the proposed scheme.

"It would be expected, as with other wastewater schemes such as East Rotoiti/Rotoma, that Tarawera ratepayers would contribute, along with Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, but there are still processes to go through."

The proposed project will be considered as part of Rotorua Lakes Council's 2018-28 Long-term Plan process later in the year, he said.

Tarawera sewerage committee chairman Glenn Snelgrove said the government funding would cover one-third of the project cost, and the Rotorua Lakes Council would put forward a subsidy of $1500 per property.

Mr Snelgrove said residents would have to pay about $40,000 per property - which was hoped would be brought down to $15,000 to $20,00.

"The options for payment would be lump sum or added to rates ... Any assistance is gratefully received."

He said the committee would be looking at "five community, culturally based options" to work out the best practical option environmentally, financially and culturally.

The preferred option would be recommended to the community later in the year.

Tarawera Ratepayers Association chairwoman Libby Fletcher was "absolutely delighted" government funding had been received.

"It was a big task to fill in the application [for funding]. It was done in conjunction with the council, the Tarawera sewerage committee, residents and Guy Salmon, a well-known ecologist."

Mrs Fletcher said the feedback she had received from permanent ratepayers at Tarawera had been "very positive".

At the steering committee's next meeting on August 25, "the number one thing on the agenda would be the offer of funding", she said.

"We haven't met yet to discuss where we go to from here ... We've been pushing water quality for a number of years, it's a long road ahead but we'll get there."

Mrs Fletcher said residents were also working on the proviso "we got the same sort of deal, a subsidy, as Lake Okareka residents" towards payment.

Don Atkinson, chairman of the community-based advocacy group Lakes Water
Quality Society, said historically projects such as these were funded by the regional council, additional to what the district council provided.

He said would ratepayers contribute "significantly" by direct payment, or paying off a loan.

"I hope all the parties contribute."