Earlier this week, the Waikato District Council gave approval for a Wastewater Design for the Upper Wainui/ Manu Bay/ Whale Bay areas to be released for public consultation. The design is a big-ticket project estimated to cost$2.1 million. That works out at just over $17,000 per property. Every property would get a new wastewater holding tank with an electric pump. The wastewater would be pumped back under pressure to the Raglan Waste Water Treatment Plant.
An investigation in 2004 found that the majority of the onsite wastewater systems had failed and were causing run off into neighbouring properties and waterways. Since 2006 WDC staff and consultants Ecoflow have been working on ways of dealing with the problem. Initially seven options were developed including land based disposal at Manu Bay or Karioi Lodge. The Whaanga Coast Ratepayers Association has been consulted as various options have been explored. In 2008, that Association objected to the cost of a gravity system and the project was put on hold until after the Variation 15 Structure Plan was completed as it would give an indication of future growth in the area. Although this Plan has now been withdrawn, Council staff say they have enough data to plan a suitable scheme.
One by one the other options were eliminated until only the low pressure scheme currently proposed, remained. Council staff will now start the consultation process commencing with the Raglan Community Board at its meeting on May 10th.