April 21, 2023
Tarawera Sewerage Scheme underway
Tarawera Sewerage Scheme underway
Media Release
Today construction began on Stage 1 of the Tarawera Sewerage Reticulation Scheme which, when completed, will provide environmental, cultural, health and land development benefits for the community.
Stage 1, involves installation of the new network’s mains and pump stations connecting the Tarawera sewerage catchment to the existing public sewerage network. Stage 2 will involve the installation of low pressure grinder pumps on about 440 properties and associated works required to connect them to the mains network.
The project began when the community at large rejected the discharge of untreated sewerage into the district’s lakes and Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Plan Change 14 – On Site Effluent Treatment (OSET) came into effect in 2017.
The OSET rules prohibit the installation of new septic tanks in the area and cease the renewal of consents for existing septic tanks with the objective of improving the health of the lake.
Mayor Tania Tapsell says allowing the declining water quality of our lakes is not an acceptable option for our communities and action is needed now to address factors affecting the lake’s water quality.
“Lake Tarawera is very special to Rotorua and a beautiful natural asset. The current sewerage systems on properties have performed poorly so this reticulation scheme is one of many actions to help us reduce public health risks, and contribute towards restoring and maintaining the bathing water quality of Lake Tarawera.
“Safe and reliable infrastructure is a top priority for Council who are committed to ensuring the Lake Tarawera community is served by modern wastewater management and a disposal system that best protects the health of the lake and our people now and into the future.”
The reticulation scheme offers the most viable option for all properties to comply with the OSET rules. Each property benefiting from the scheme will pay an equal share of the net construction costs, which is in line with payment systems used for the construction of other sewerage schemes in the district.
Kaumātua and iwi representative Wairangi Jones says today’s karakia whakanoa blessing marks a welcome step in the collective efforts towards Te Mauri o Tarawera – protecting the health of Tarawera.
“Lake Tarawera is a taonga tuku iho (ancestral taonga) for Tūhourangi and Ngāti Rangitihi, and we all have an important role as kaitiaka (guardian) of the taiao (environment) to protect and preserve it for future generations.”
A formal whakatau by Tūhourangi tangata at ‘Te Anga Tokiniho’ an ahu whenua trust block, also signified support and a unified partnership between tangata whenua and Rotorua Lakes Council in improving and maintaining the health of the lake environment.
The previous Council committed to the phased implementation of the scheme to provide a better cost outcome for the community and to safeguard $6.5million of deed funding from the Ministry for the Environment.
Procurement for Stage 2 construction is underway through open market tendering. This approach will incentivise and encourage competitive price tension between tenderers and is likely to produce the best cost outcome for the project.
Outcomes of procurement for Stage 2 will be known and communicated around June/July 2023 prior to a contract recommendation to Council and committing to construction of that phase.
ENDS