IN ATTENDANCE: Messrs B Somers (Utilities Manager), K Thompson (District Engineer), M Maguire (Planning & Environmental Services Manager), U Trebilco (Environment Waikato) and Mrs R Johnson (Council Secretary)

RESOLVED

THAT the apologies of Cr Troughton, His Worship the Mayor B J Morrison and P Te Moananui (Hauraki Maori Trust Board) be received and sustained.

WWCC01/1 Baker/Carmine 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.

Water Supplies Rotokohu Road

Low River Flows

WWCC01/2 Carmine/Johansen CARRIED

MEETING HELD 5 DECEMBER 2000

WWCC01/3 Carmine/Clarkin CARRIED

There were no matters arising.

The Utilities Manager advised that further testing was carried out in December to establish optimum chemical dosing. A report detailing the results of these tests had recently been received. Based on the report it was now possible to more accurately determine running costs. The next stage is to accurately estimate the annual operating and capital costs associated with the Jetflote process, and then these can be compared with the option of land disposal of the effluent.

The Utilities Manager advised that to date there had been no formal response from Ngati Tamatera regarding the latest proposals for the Walmsley water takes resource consent.

Attached was a review of the options for the Waitakaruru sewage treatment plant undertaken by Bruce Wallace Partners Ltd.

The Utilities Manager advised that Waitakaruru is a very small sewage scheme, and due to economics of scale has a very high cost per property. The Government is currently looking at the funding difficulties associated with small communities being able to install sewerage schemes and the possibility of subsidies has been discussed. Until they release their guidelines, it is not known if Waitakaruru would be eligible for a subsidy.

Included in the treatment options is the inclusion of the effluent from the school. To date there has been only preliminary discussions with the school regarding the possibility of their combining with a Council scheme. If the school did not join, then it was likely they would have to upgrade their current treatment plant.

It was noted that the cost to the school to implement their own new sewerage system would be very costly. The matter would need to be discussed with the School Board and the Ministry of Education. The long term future of the Waitakaruru School would also need to be determined.

The report concluded with three possible options:

Pump the effluent to Ngatea

Effluent only treatment and disposal at Waitakaruru.

Raw wastewater treatment and disposal at Waitakaruru.

The Utilities Manager outlined the three options.

The Planning & Environmental Services Manager commented that there was interest in future development at Waitakaruru and outlined the main area where development was likely to take place.

The Utilities Manager advised that on site disposal was not an option because of the sections being so small and the soakage so poor. The need for reticulation was definitely there.

After discussion the Committee agreed that No 1 was the most favoured option at this stage.

RESOLVED

THAT further investigations be made and meetings held with the school and the Ministry of Education regarding the long term situation of the Waitakaruru School.

WWCC01/4 Baker/Brownlee CARRIED

The Utilities Manager updated the Committee on the water conservation measures that were being implemented throughout the district.

The Utilities Manager advised that high bacterial levels had been found in the water supply at Rotokohu Road. There were a number of reasons that could have contributed to this and those affected had been notified. The situation would continue to be monitored.

The Utilities Manager tabled some graphs of low river flows in the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers. Both rivers were at the lowest that they had been for a number of years.

Pasture irrigators had been asked to stop using their irrigation systems from the Waihou River because of the low level flow. Irrigation was having a significant impact on the current water supplies.

It was noted that the Plains area water supply was causing concern.

The Utilities Manager advised that the majority of the water take consents will require renewal this year. The consultancy firm Meritec had been engaged to prepare and lodge the resource consent applications.

Representatives Hock Yeo and Sue Ruston from Meritec attended the meeting to provide a short presentation of each consent and the issues relating to them. Meritec also wished to discuss with the Committee any issues relating to the proposed water take resource consents and to establish how best to undertake appropriate consultation.

Points covered in the presentation were:

Key Requirements for Change in Water Supply Operations

Water Supply Strategy

Issues and Options

Waikino Water

Waitete Water (Waihi)

Karangahake Water

Mackaytown Water

Ohinemuri Water

Kaimanawa Water

Puriri Water (Apakura Stream)

Waitakaruru River (Mangatarata Stream)

Tetleys Quarry

Waitakaruru River (Steen Road)

Waitakaruru Groundwater Bores

The next meeting would be held on Tuesday 6 March 2001 at 10.00 am.

The meeting closed at 12.25 pm.

CONFIRMED

D Johansen

March 2001