PRESENT: Cr D Johansen (Chairman), Crs S Baker, Lockwood, W Brownlee (Ngati Tamatera), W Peters (Ngati Maru Iwi Authority)

IN ATTENDANCE: Crs Gordon, Laurich, Munro, Messrs B Somers (Utilities Manager),

K Thompson (District Engineer), I McLeod (Drainage Manager),

D Speirs (Environment Waikato), N smith (Ngati Maru Iwi Authority) and Ms R Jamieson (Council Secretary)

RESOLVED

THAT the apologies of His Worship the Mayor B J Morrison, Cr Carmine, B Clarkin, U Trebilco and B Karu, be received and sustained.

WWCC01/7 Baker/Brownlee CARRIED

Pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the Chairman is to call for late items to be accepted. There were none.

RESOLVED

THAT Cr Lockwood be co-opted onto the Water and Wastewater Consultative Committee.

WWCC01/8 Baker/Brownlee CARRIED

MEETING HELD 6 MARCH 2001

WWCC01/9 Baker/Lockwood CARRIED

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Nothing further to report.

The Utilities Manager present a report prepared by Bruce Wallace Partners Ltd (BWPL) that compared the options of Jetflote and Land Irrigation. The Utilities Manager advised that the recommendation contained within that report were for guidance only.

Mr W Peters and Mr N Smith (Ngati Maru Iwi Authority) attended the meeting at 10.15 am.

The report covered:

Discussion was held on river levels and there classification. Comment was made that it was an objective of Environment Waikato to improve the quality of the rivers.

There was concern regarding the current classifications of the Ohinemuri River and comment was made that Council should set a higher standard than what Environment Waikato had imposed.

The Chairman commented that Council would like to see the best quality of treated effluent put back into the river.

Concern was also expressed at the possibility of chemicals that were left in the effluent and their effects on the river.

The Utilities Manager advised that the chemicals that would be in the effluent going back into the river would be down to such a level that they would not have an adverse effect on the river.

Clarification was sought as to why the Jetflote System was not considered for the Paeroa Sewage Plant. It was noted that the Jetflote system was more suitable to Waihi because of the high phosphorous levels in the water.

The Utilities Manager commented that a public workshop should be held in Waihi to provide an opportunity to advise the public what was proposed.

RESOLVED

That the Bruce Wallace Partners Report detailing a Comparison of Jetflote and Land Irrigation Options be received.

That a Jetlote type treatment process be the preferred means of improving the effluent quality from the Waihi effluent ponds.

That interest groups and member of the public be invited to an information day held in Waihi to detail the proposed improvements in the sewage treatment process.

That work commences on preparing resource consents application based on the Jetflote proposal as detailed in the Bruce Wallace Partners Ltd report dated February 2000.

WWCC01/10 Lockwood/Baker CARRIED

Cr Lockwood commented on good job.

Nothing further to report.

The Utilities Manager advised that at a meeting with members from the Waitakaruru School they had advised that they were happy to continue as they were, but advised that if they were to join the scheme they would be able to offer a small contribution towards it.

The consultants report has been received. The report recommended further testing of several bores to permit a more conclusive decision to be made. Those tests were currently being undertaken.

The Utilities Manager advised that eleven consents based on the concepts previously discussed had been lodged with Environment Waikato at the end of March. Once lodged they would follow due process and any issues raised would have to be dealt with.

The Utilities Manager advised that discharge of the residuals (filter and clarifier backwash) from the Kerepehi Water Treatment Plant was being discharged direct to the Awaiti Canal via a pipeline owned by Tanners Sawmills. The discharge consent for the pipeline belongs to Tanners Sawmills. The suspended solid concentration of the backwash water was preventing Tanners Sawmills from renewing their discharge consent. Council had investigated several options for the treatment of these residuals and in the last year had purchased a small farm to the northern side of the Kerepehi water treatment plant with the view of constructing ponds to remove the suspended solids from the backwash.

Attached to the agenda was a plan detailing the proposed layout of the settling ponds. It was proposed to discharge the supernatant from the ponds into the land drainage system that runs along Kerepehi Town Rd/ Wharepoa Rd back to the Waihou River. This was a gravity drain that does not go through a pump and returns the water to the same river as it came from. The other option would be to discharge to the north of the property into another land drainage system that was at times pumped into the Piako River.

Investigations into the composition of water treatment plant residuals have found them to be relatively inert with a low plant nutritional value.

The volume of supernatant discharged would vary depending on water treatment production and the quality of the raw water being treated. Based on a maximum production through the water treatment plant of 12,500 m3/day (current maximum 6,500m3/day) the maximum daily discharge of supernatant would be 550 m3/day with the average of 396 m3/day.

Feed back on appropriate consultation was sort from this Committee.

The Utilities Manager advised that normal type consultation would proceed.

RESOLVED

THAT the consultation process continue.

WWCC01/11 Lockwood/Baker CARRIED

Mr David Speirs from Environment Waikato attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the findings of recent research into the migration and breeding cycle of the fresh water fish species found within the Districts water ways.

The findings are likely to have a significant impact on existing and future structures in waterways. These structures include, farm and road culverts, fords, land drainage floodgates, weirs and dams.

Points covered were:

Fish Passage at Culverts

Why provide fish passage

What does it take to stop a fish passage

Not all our native fish can climb

Coromandel Culverts - surveyed

What’s the problem

What can we do

What is EW doing

What are we protecting

Cr Baker left the meeting at 12.10 pm.

The Chairman thanked Mr Speirs for the presentation.

There were no late items.

The meeting closed at 12.12 pm.

CONFIRMED

D Johansen

May 2001