Update 28th March: Waikato District Council General Manager Service Delivery Tim Harty said, “We are continuing to test the water, to determine when exactly it will be safe for people to swim, fish and collect shellfish again in Raglan. It could take up to five days to get back water test results, but I hope the area can be re-opened before the coming weekend.”
Update 27th March: WDC staff have followed Cr Baddeley’s suggestion and put signs up around the harbour.
Raglan Councillor Clint Baddeley has suggested to WDC staff that more hazard signs are needed about the sewage spill at Marine Parade, Raglan.
After visiting the site on Saturday morning, Clint sent the Council’s Waters Manager an email saying, “There is a need for more signage at the bridge and jetty area and in general. Apart from the site there is no real significant messaging.”
When Raglan 23 visited the site this morning, Council staff and contractors were busy on the clean up after installing a diesel pump unit while the pumping station is repaired. WDC staff have done an amazing job getting this temporary pump going over night. Regional Council staff were also onsite checking up on the incident.
I didn’t see any hazard signs at other locations around the harbour. There was no sign at the shell gathering gathering location near Petchell Park and none at the jetty. People were busy enjoying water sports on the Opotoru. Good to see Clint on to this and pointing out the need for more signs to WDC staff.
The latest WDC announcement on the issue follows.
Media Release: Waikato District Council, March 26, 2016
Untreated wastewater has entered the Raglan harbour after the main inlet pipe to the Marine Parade pump station collapsed around 8pm last night.
“Waikato District Council staff and contractors were on site quickly and stayed on site through the night to as much as possible limit any further wastewater entering the harbour.
A temporary solution to pump wastewater is now in place. This is being run manually while a repair is undertaken today.
Council has put up signs in the area advising the public not to swim or collect shellfish until further notice,” Waikato District Council General Manager Service Delivery Tim Harty says.
Council will investigate the cause of the collapse and will keep Waikato Regional Council up to date.
WDC say:
- We are advising no swimming, fishing or seafood gathering within the harbour until further notice.
- If residents are able to reduce the amount of wastewater they are creating (shorter showers etc) for the next 24 hours it would be helpful, but the temporary solution Council has put in place should do the job until the repair is completed.
- It is safe to swim at Whale Bay, it’s just within the harbour that swimming is not recommended.
- It is thought approximately 10 cubic meters of wastewater has entered Raglan Harbour.