Heather Patu (left) and Jo Whillis, trustees of Ngati Uenukukopako Iwi Trust. Photo / Stephen Parker
Heather Patu (left) and Jo Whillis, trustees of Ngati Uenukukopako Iwi Trust. Photo / Stephen Parker
A $29 million plan to discharge treated effluent into Lake Rotorua could move a step closer today - but some local Maori are not happy and are vowing to fight.
The plan to upgrade Rotorua's Wastewater Treatment Plant - which includes discharging treated effluent into Lake Rotorua - is to be voted on at this morning's Rotorua Lakes Council Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee meeting.
The committee will decide whether to recommend the council goes ahead to a resource consent application for the preferred upgrade of the plant.
The proposed upgrade follows the council signing a deed with CNI Iwi Holdings to end the spraying of treated wastewater in the Whakarewarewa Forest by the end of 2019.
The preferred option, which includes discharging effluent at Puarenga Bay following a "very high level of treatment", would cost an estimated $29 million. It would also continue to investigate alternatives.
An alternative plan to discharge the effluent to a rapid infiltration bed would cost about $54 million - meaning the wastewater targeted rate would increase by $74 a year per property, the report by Water Planning manager Greg Manzano said.
Eastside resident Nireaha Pirika, who affilitates to Ngati Uenukukopako, said his iwi and others that bordered the eastern lake shores were not happy.
"Would you want to be swimming in water knowing where it has been?"
His whanau regularly swam at Hannah's Bay and in the Owhata area but would stop if treated effluent was put in the lake.
Mr Pirika said his iwi had been working on their own land-based solution to take to the council using 800ha of Maori land on the ranges opposite and inland from the Rotorua Airport. They hadn't yet done due diligence on their plan and it was unlikely to meet the deadline.
"They have left the door open to bring back the option to them."
Mr Pirika said he believed the council was wrongly making its decision based on cost. "It is not about putting the best option up."
He said his iwi would still fight any decisions and they planned to oppose the resource consent.
Rotorua waste water treatment plant on Lake Rotorua. PHOTO/FILE
Rotorua Lakes Council's iwi representative board, Te Tatau Board, chairman Te Taru White said the council had consulted extensively using an iwi consultative group.
"In a perfect world you would expect to get everyone in agreement but there have been some areas of concern from the mana whenua (people of the land)."
The council presentation "on the face of it" it looked comprehensive, although the board had not yet formed an official opinion.
"There are assurances that it is almost as clean as drinking water."
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said she agreed with the recommendation because it would have a level of purity that would not harm the lake.
"It has been a lengthy process and we have worked closely with the Rotorua project steering committee. Te Arawa iwi from around the lake are represented."
The Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers group supports the cheaper option and urged the council not to borrow further or raise rates.
"The earth contact beds and discharge into Lake Rotorua via a dry creek is the only financially responsible discharge option at this point in time," said Dr Reynold Macpherson, the group's endorsed mayoral candidate.
He said the option was opposed "by a few small iwi" and the southern end of Puarenga Bay was not a food source.
Developing a clear framework around the earthquake strengthening of council-owned buildings will also be up for discussion today.
Currently the Rotorua Lakes Council has no framework in place for the level and timing of its strengthening works.
"This has to date resulted in lack of clarity for engineers, consultants and council staff," stated the report on a proposed Seismic Policy and Risk Reduction Framework.
If the status quo was to continue, there was the potential for inconsistent decisions and either over or under investment in strengthening, it said.
The Long Term Plan has allowed for $17m for strengthening works of council-owned buildings.
The investment for the three priority buildings: the i-Site ($2.07m), Rotorua Museum ($5.4m) and Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre ($9.7m) was consulted upon within the Long Term Plan.
"However, at this time the accurate costs of strengthening those buildings are unknown until further work is undertaken."
The committee will also discuss going out to public consultation on the Solid Waste Bylaw 2016, the adoption of the Annual Plan 2016/17 and a Terax board update.
Options:
Preferred treatment: Converting the existing plant to a full membrane bioreactor plant with additional phosphorous removal and ultraviolet disinfection.
Preferred discharge: Discharge to earth contact beds within existing plant site at Sanatorium Reserve. Treated effluent would flow through beds, into an existing open channel and overland into Lake Rotorua at Puarenga Bay.
Alternative Discharge: Pipe treated effluent to location somewhere in catchment and discharge to rapid infiltration beds where it would would flow as groundwater before entering the lake.
Other discharge: Preliminary discussions continue.
