The Waikato District Council meeting on Tuesday June 26th gave the go ahead for the new Whaanga Coast $2.17 million sewer. The project is being paid for by a 60:40 funding split between the community and the council. Sixty of 110 properties have signed up for the project, with others expected to join the scheme once work starts. Ratepayers will not need to pay their first contribution to the scheme until mid-next year.
The Whaanga Coast includes settlements around Raglan’s main surf breaks including Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Upper Wainui Rd. Residents whose on-site waste systems pass rigorous compliance checks can opt out of the scheme. The scheme has become very controversial as it only covers living zone properties in the area and is limited to 170 connections.
The Waikato District Council agreed for staff to begin work on detailed design and tendering for the scheme. The initiative will see properties connected to a reticulation network and their wastewater sent to the Raglan treatment plant. The council’s Water & Facilities GM Richard Bax said, “Whaanga Coast had evolved from a community of low-cost lifestyle homes and baches to permanent residences, tourist accommodation and camps. Council inspections found a number of on-site waste systems were failing and causing overflow and seepage into neighbouring properties and waterways. The Whaanga Coast community were supportive of cleaning up the environment but did not want to fully fund the cost of the scheme.”