Matatā wastewater project squashed

A review of the need for a proposed wastewater reticulation and treatment scheme in Matatā has resulted in a recommendation that the Whakatāne District Council does not proceed with the project at this time.

The scheme was first proposed in 2004, when it had an estimated cost of $4 million, and received approval for Ministry of Health subsidy funding of $3.3 million under the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme. The flooding and debris disaster which struck the township in 2005 saw the project placed on hold until 2008, by which time, changes in scope and design had increased the estimated cost to $9 million. Further proposed changes between 2009 and 2011 saw costs escalate to some $10.5 million, while the subsidy funding available increased to $6.7 million.

The Whakatāne District Council’s Matata Projects Governance Group Chairperson, Councillor Russell Orr, says concerns about the project lead the Council to undertake a review of its health impact justification and reassess the reticulation and treatment options available.

“There was a degree of urgency involved, because to qualify for subsidy funding, the project would have to be completed by 30 June 2014,” Mr Orr says. “Our view was that the original business case and health impact assessment

were unconvincing and given the scale of the funding at stake, we thought it prudent to take independent expert advice before proceeding.”

The Beca consultancy was engaged to undertake the project review in early-June and report back to the Council by 1 August.

The review was broken into two work areas: a new Public Health Risk Assessment based on up-to-date health and environmental testing data (carried out by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research); and a summary of previously considered reticulation and treatment options, with updated costings, and commentary on any additional options which could be considered.

“The key review finding was that there is no compelling case for the introduction of a full reticulated sewage disposal system in Matatā on the basis of risks to human health,” Mr Orr continues. “Environmental testing also indicates that adverse impacts arising from the use of septic tank disposal systems are not widespread and we are confident that those impacts can be remedied.

“Under the circumstances, it is difficult to sustain the proposition that significant public and ratepayer funding should be committed to the development of the wastewater scheme and the Council has therefore notified the Matatā community that it does not intend to continue with the project at this time.”

Documents summarising the review findings and outlining a proposed Bay of Plenty Regional Council plan change to make Matatā a ‘maintenance zone’ for on-site effluent treatment were distributed throughout the township over the weekend.

Feedback from the meeting will be taken to a full Council meeting the next day, when the Beca wastewater review report and the recommendations arising from will be considered.

“If adopted, those recommendations will see a field investigation team formed, in conjunction with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, to investigate the few areas where septic tank systems don’t seem to be working effectively and undertake a package of work to improve the standard of on-site disposal systems,” Mr Orr concludes.

The maintenance zone for on-site effluent treatment proposed by the Regional Council would involve the collection of information on existing septic tank age, condition and maintenance and establish a mandatory inspection and maintenance regime.

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