RESOLVED

THAT the apology of Cr B Wightman be received and sustained.

CCWW05/01 Baker/Trembath CARRIED

There were no late items.

MEETING HELD MONDAY 6 DECEMBER 2004

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Consultative Committee Water and Wastes held on Monday 6 December 2004 be taken as read and confirmed.

CCWW05/02 Welsh/Anderson CARRIED

It was asked if the construction of the Waitakaruru Wastewater plant is on schedule. It was advised that construction of the plant is scheduled to commence this month and to be completed by 30 June 2005.

An update was requested regarding the investigations into the trialling of the ‘White Amur’ grass carp as a form of biological weed control. In response, it was advised that at this stage, an assessment study will be undertaken when an agreement with DOC has been finalised relating to costs for the assessment. This issue is now on hold until an agreement between Council and DOC has been reached. The Drainage Manager advised that the Drainage Committee’s have indicated they do not wish to incur any further costs of the assessment of the application.

It was requested by Ms Anderson that she be provided with an update prior to any trial being undertaken. In response, Ms Anderson was advised that Council will ensure that Iwi are informed before any trial commences.

UTILITIES MANAGER’S WATER SUPPLY REPORT (37KB) 

A report from the Utilities Manager was presented.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

CCWW05/03 Corlett/Clarkin CARRIED

Plains Water Supply

The Utilities Manager informed the members that due to the current resource consent expiring this year, an application for the abstraction of 15,000 M³/day of water from the Waihou River has been lodged with Environment Waikato. Council are considering extracting a larger volume of water from the Waihou River in the future due to the river being the largest source of water on the Plains.

It was advised that the option to use the Hikutaia Cut as a raw water source requires further investigation to determine likely groundwater quantity if water is drawn from the Cut.

A concern has been raised through preliminary consultation regarding the grass carp located in the Cut that could increase population numbers in the Waihou River catchment when water is pumped from the Cut.

In reply to a question regarding why an upgrade was necessary to the Kerepehi Water Supply, it was advised that the reason for upgrading the Kerepehi Water Supply was to meet new standard water quality requirements. Whereby, the Kerepehi Plant would be expanded to offset the loss of water produced from the Eastern Plains Supply (Huirau Rd) due to the need to close the supply.

It was asked if additional storage tanks would be needed for holding the increased volume of water at Kerepehi. The Utilities Manager stated that there is a need for additional water storage, but it is not necessary to have it at the Kerepehi Water Treatment Plant.

It was asked if bore investigations had been undertaken on the Plains. The Waitakaruru investigations have looked at ground water sources. The information was based on existing water sources. Council have looked at bore water supplies in the ranges but it was found to be too expensive with respect to the risk involved and the current water quality and quantity recorded from existing bores.

It was asked if the rising population due to the increase in land subdivision on the Plains would increase the demand for water. It was replied that urban usage does not have a significant affect on the water supply; it is more the intensive farming in the rural sector that affects the demand for water supply.

Ms Anderson asked if Council have been involved in the Environment Waikato allocation of water supply from the Waihou River. The Utilities Manager replied that the Hauraki District Council is involved with the water allocation program with Environment Waikato. With regards to the allocation of water sourced from the Waihou River to meet the requirements of the Kerepehi/Plains water supply, it was advised that the residential supply is a higher priority than the demand for the commercial/industrial supply.

It was advised that the application for the abstraction of water from the Apakura Stream has been lodged.

It was asked if the Steen Road Raw Water Storage facility would be of use for the entire Plains area. It was replied that the storage would not be sufficient due to the limitations in the water catchment to produce the volumes required. The Waitakaruru streams are quite a minimal supply and this is the reason why the storage is required to allow for a shortfall in supply during the low flow months.

It was asked if there are alternative storage options available. In reply to this inquiry, it was informed that there have been investigations to construct a dam and/or reservoir on a farm in the vicinity to use as an additional water storage facility, which have stated that the risks and costs involved have been far greater than the quarry pit option.

UTILITIES MANAGER’S WASTEWATER AND SOLID WASTE REPORT (17KB)

A report from the Utilities Manager was presented.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

CCWW05/04 Welsh/Corlett CARRIED

The Utilities Manager updated the members on the construction of the Waitakaruru Wastewater Plant.

It was suggested that a site visit to the treatment plant be undertaken once it is fully functional.

It was advised that the construction of a maturation pond at the Turua Wastewater Treatment Plant is scheduled to commence over the summer of 2005/06.

The Utilities Manager informed the Committee that under the Local Government Act 2002, Council is required to carry out an assessment of water and sanitary services. A draft document is presently being finalised which will go out for public consultation.

It was advised that the refuse collection tender is out at present and will close on 7 April 2005. There has been a significant interest in the contract. Council are presently considering kerbside collections and investigating alternatives to kerbside recycling.

There was no general business.

The Utilities Manager – Water Supply advised he will organise a site visit for the Committee to visit the Waitakaruru Waste Water Treatment Plant (once it is fully functional), and to the Tetleys Quarry to view the facility as an option for raw water storage. Confirmation of dates/times for the site visits will be advised in due course.

The meeting closed at 11.25am.

CONFIRMED

S G Baker

June 2005