3 March 2017
Rotorua Lakes Council is progressing with resource consents for the proposed East Rotoiti/Rotoma Sewerage Scheme and a trial of Biolytix wastewater treatment units is now underway.
Design work for the Rotoma piping network is also underway and the Rotoiti part of scheme can proceed following the year-long Biolytix trial.
A total of 22 submissions were received to the resource consent application and council staff will attempt to meet with those who opposed or attached conditions to their support to try to resolve issues raised.
The progress to now has been facilitated by a community-led steering committee which was chaired by Ian McLean and considered all options before making a recommendation to Rotorua Lakes Council elected members.
Rotoehu residents are keen to link up to the East Rotoiti/Rotoma scheme and a community-led Rotoehu Project Steering Committee has been established to work through available options for that community. Chaired by Rotoehu local Alison Sellars, the committee also includes other residents and representatives from Rotorua Lakes Council, iwi, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Fish and Game, Department of Conservation and Toi Te Ora Public Health. Councillor Tania Tapsell is the councillor representative on the committee.
Meanwhile, Rotorua Lakes Council is also working with the Tarawera community to look at options for a sewerage scheme there.
That project steering committee is chaired by Glenn Snelgrove and funding and technical advisory committees are also to be established.
The committee comprises representatives from Tarawera Ratepayers Association, iwi, Lakes Water Quality Society, Tarawera Lakes Protection Society, Rotorua Lakes Community Board, Project Rerewhakaaitu, Federated Farmers, Fish and Game, Ministry of Health, Department of Conservation, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council.
Once options have been established, risk analysis and cultural assessments will be done for each before the committee makes its recommendation to council.
