Community feedback is to be sought on a number of potential development options for the Plains Water Scheme.
At its meeting this week, the Whakatāne District Council’s Policy Committee confirmed the intention to develop the Paul Road bore as an alternative water source for eastern areas of the Rangitāiki Plains. The committee also resolved that a consultation document be prepared outlining all of the available options, plus a proposal to install water meters on all Edgecumbe connections, as part of the Council’s 2016/17 Annual Plan consultation process.
A report received by the committee detailed the financial implications of the development possibilities and proposed two preferred options which would allow Edgecumbe and Te Teko and surrounds to be isolated from water drawn from the existing Braemar Springs and the Johnson Road water sources. Water from both sources contains naturally occurring arsenic at levels which exceed national drinking water standards.
Prepared by Council Planning, Regulatory and Corporate Services General Manager David Bewley, the report concluded that the most cost effective way of ensuring that Edgecumbe and Te Teko’s water supplies meet the national drinking water standards would be to connect Edgecumbe to the Paul Road supply and secure the existing Tahuna Road bore as a dedicated source to supply Te Teko and surrounds. That option would involve a total capital cost of $4.75 million, of which $2.02 million would be provided by a Ministry of Health subsidy towards the Edgecumbe component of the project. Operating costs, from year two, are estimated at between $211,000 and $217,000 a year, with financing costs making up approximately 90 percent of the total.
The second preferred option would see water from the Paul Road bore supplied to both Edgecumbe and Te Teko, at an estimated capital cost of $5.5 million, with the MoH subsidy again going towards the Edgecumbe reticulation works. Operating costs are estimated at between $262,000 and $276,000 a year, with financing costs make up about 90 percent of that cost.
Indicative water charges calculated for the latter option indicate that it would not raise total rates costs above the maximum level set out in the District’s 2015-25 Long Term Plan. However, increased water charges would result for all District equalised schemes, including Edgecumbe, and for all other consumers connected to the Plains scheme. Consumers supplied by equalised schemes (with the exception of Murupara) pay a common supply charge and a usage charge for the actual volume of water used. Based on average household consumption, total water rates charges for equalised schemes are likely to increase by about $43 (to $464) in 2016/17 to cover the additional Plains water operating and financing costs involved.
The Plains Water Advisory Board and Rangitāiki Community Board will be asked for input to the preferred options proposed. Consultation will also be undertaken with Te Roopu Wai Māori Te Teko – a working group comprised of representatives of the area’s hapū and whanau – to confirm the Te Teko community’s water supply preferences.
A consultation document on the proposal will be prepared and distributed to Plains/Awakeri scheme consumers at the end of March. Information will also be included in the Council’s Annual Plan consultation document, allowing consumers served by other equalised schemes to have their say. The submissions period will begin on 21 March and close on 22 April.