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Kawakawa Bay wastewater scheme hits snag as pump station plan rejected Wednesday, 07 March 2007 • Howick and Botany Times A JOINT hearings committee of the Auckland Regional Council and Manukau City Council has declined an application by Manukau Water Ltd to build a vacuum pump station for the proposed Kawakawa Bay Wastewater Scheme. Other significant aspects of the project, including the main wastewater treatment plant, have had their consent applications approved, albeit with some conditions. However, the pump station consent is declined, mainly because it was to be sited on a recreation reserve. The committee has ruled that a more suitable site could potentially be found. Manukau Water is extremely disappointed that the project will now be delayed further, while the beaches and streams of Kawakawa Bay will not be available for community use for at least another three years. Manukau Water chief executive Raveen Jaduram says it’s his intention to move urgently to minimise the cost impact of the decision and any further delays to the important project. The Kawakawa Bay Wastewater Scheme is already an $18.3 million commitment to the community. It was initiated in 2003 at the request of the city council, to address high health risks and ongoing environmental contamination from failed private wastewater systems in Kawakawa Bay. Kawakawa Bay has approximately 600 people, but Mr Jaduram says Manukau Water is committing a large sum to clean up the area’s polluted streams and coastal area. Manukau Water is now at the point where it cannot proceed with the project. It’s in the process of suspending the building contract. While some minor work can be carried out over the next few weeks, full construction will only recommence when all council consents are granted. That could take a year or more, while commissioning the scheme is likely to be more than three years away. Mr Jaduram says Manukau Water now plans to appeal the decision on the Community Hall recreation reserve. It’ll do all that’s necessary to mitigate its impact on the reserve and any potentially affected homeowners or residents, while formally applying for a consent to site the vacuum pumping station at Whitford Point, after consulting with Iwi and the ARC. He says it’s also open to any other suggestions, provided there’s full Kawakawa Bay community support and it’ll not result in further costly delays. Manukau Water is holding a public meeting next Tuesday, March 13, at 7pm in the Kawakawa Bay Community Hall. At the meeting, the company will discuss ways forward while seeking the full endorsement from Kawakawa Bay people on what it plans to do. |