East Rotoiti and Lake Rotoma

Rotorua District Council (RDC) will shortly be seeking community views on options for sewage from East Rotoiti and Lake Rotoma communities.

The area covered is from Curtis Rd along SH 30 to the Rotoma Hills and including side roads.  Kennedy Bay and Otautu Bay are not included.

In 2012 the attempt by RDC to obtain resource consent for its chosen scheme failed in the Environment Court.

RDC then made a fresh start with iwi and community groups. A steering Committee (RRSSC) was set up with Ian McLean as independent chair. Iwi, community organisations, local and central government authorities have worked closely together on the Committee.

The key objectives are better lake water quality and protection of public health. At the same time respect must be shown for cultural values and community wishes.

A Technical Advisory Group has considered a wide range of options to deal with sewage in the area. . A short-list of options has been determined. An evaluation of these will be publicised in mid-August.  It will also then be on the RDC website www.rdc.govt.nz .

Meetings (hui) will be held to provide information and to hear views from iwi and other community groups. Details are:

• Saturday 26 July 2014 at Punawhakareira (Uenuku) Marae, Rotoiti, at 10.00 am
• Sunday 27th July 2014 at Rotoma Fire station, at 10.00am
• Sunday 3 August 2014 at Rotoiti Clubrooms at 10.00 am (Co-Chaired by Hilary Prior of LRCA)

Please tell your neighbours about these meetings.

The community will also be able to provide input through the RDC website or in writing.

The RRSSC will then make a recommendation to RDC on a preferred option. In order to retain the $4.46m subsidy from the Ministry of Health, RDC must select a preferred option by 30 September.

The future of your community and your lakes are at stake. You are invited to become involved.

Contacts:        Ian McLean 021 435 845      or Greg Manzano:    07 351 8204

Associated Material:

INFORMATION PACK

FEEDBACK FORM

FAQ SHEET

Since our last newsletter there have been both developments, and a standing still on the Eastern Rotoiti – Rotoma Sewerage Scheme.

Movement in that the appeals to the Environment Court against the granting of a Resource Consent for a Sewerage Treatment Plant to be built on the edge of Rotoma went ahead when mediation failed to resolve issues raised. The Appeal before the Environment Court lasted 5 days, but was then adjourned with the agreement of all parties to allow RDC to investigate alternative sites within the Consented area. The Court was scheduled to sit again in October.

Standing Still because RDC relinquished the Consent in October and is now exploring other options.

In fact the relinquishing of the Consent for the Treatment Plant was a good result for everyone. The Appeal in the Environment Court showed up many flaws in RDC’s consultation process, and while the science finally seemed to come out favourably for the site (although this was disputed by one of the appellants), it was apparent this was through luck rather than a responsible and comprehensive investigation of the site before purchase. The adjournment of the Hearing and subsequent relinquishment of the Consent perhaps gave Council a graceful way to extract itself from a case it could have easily lost, and of course answered all concerns of the Appellants.

So where are we now?

The most positive thing to come out of the Consent and Appeal process was that RDC came to realise that their pricing model for the scheme was totally out of touch with what the communities affected by the scheme could afford. A determined renegotiation of the funding rules by RDC  with central government, and the current economic situation, have meant that RDC was able to revise costs to each household down to a much more realistic level, almost halving the cost.

Of course having to find another way of handling the sewerage treatment may impact on this. RDC is looking at alternative options currently which it is hoped will be put in front of Council for a decision in February 2013. Indications are that the frontrunner options would come in at about the same cost as the now dropped scheme, so that the cost to households would remain approximately the same.

We look forward to being able to report back early in 2013 once Council has met and made a decision on how they intend to deal with the treatment and disposal of waste from the scheme.

LRCA has applied to be a Party to the proceedings.