Pipe row turns septic

Moontide Rd is a picture of country life: a tree-lined avenue, secluded properties, paddocks with horses. No wonder residents of the no-exit road in Riverhead were alarmed when surveyors and roadworkers appeared this month. Wonder turned to anger when the residents found they would host a sewer main - while they're on septic tanks. Sophie Bond reports.
Ash Wilson grew up here. He and his family were unprepared to find the rural road suddenly lined with machinery and trenches being dug for a wastewater pipe. "The basic problem is that they are going to tear up our road and we're not going to get any benefit from it.''
Seated on the veranda at his parents' home, neighbours have gathered to share their concerns. Ash's mother, Anna Wilson, says the former Rodney District Council held public meetings two years ago about its proposal to supply Kumeu-Huapai and Riverhead
with wastewater and water services.
"We didn't dream we would be affected, so we didn't go.''
A few months later, the residents of Moontide Rd found out their street was the preferred route for a 315mm diameter wastewater pipeline.
In September 2009, the neighbours met the council's project manager, John Douglas, and felt reassured the project was on hold. They say they had no idea the project was going ahead until letters arrived last week from Watercare announcing the work was beginning.
Long-time resident Werner (who didn't wish to use his full name) feels they have been treated despicably. "At the least, I feel a personalised letter would have been appropriate. For us, there's no upside to this.''
He says all properties on Moontide Rd are on tank water and septic tanks, and the only way they could connect to the new pipeline would be by pumping their waste to a station at Huapai Golf  Club.
Mrs Wilson is particularly concerned about the relief valves along the pipeway, one of which will be metres from the family's outdoor barbecue area and pool. She says the residents feel railroaded and upset they will lose out over facilities they don't get to use.
Rodney Local Board chairman Bob Howard says he's also had trouble finding out what is going on.
"The board has not been told about it. I know there was consultation that was carried out and plans were shown and everything, but that was some time ago,''  he says.
On the day The Aucklander began looking into the concerns of Moontide Rd residents, there was no information about the project on Watercare's website.
Ward councillor for Rodney and former Rodney district mayor, Penny Webster, says she recalls handing the project over to Watercare in the transition to the new Auckland Council.
"The fact of the matter is the pipes have to go in. It shouldn't come as a surprise. There was a lot of advertising about the project that was done. However, it may be that the street wasn't individually informed and that may have been handled better.''
Watercare's response
Watercare's spokeswoman, Rachel Hughes, says the wastewater rising main is being
laid along Moontide Rd to serve the growing communities of Riverhead, Kumeu and Huapai.
"The Rodney District Council undertook extensive consultation as part of the Long Term Council Community Plan and statutory planning processes.  With regards to the residents of Moontide Rd, the council attended an open meeting with the residents on August 22, 2009 and continued to liaise with those who expressed an ongoing interest in the project.''
Watercare took over the $13 million project on November 1 last year.
Ms Hughes says there is no way the Moontide Rd houses can be linked to the system.
"The wastewater rising main is part of a trunk pressurised system and, therefore, private connections cannot be accommodated,'' she says. "If the Auckland Council identified Moontide Rd as part of a growth area in need of a reticulated wastewater network, it is likely Watercare would need to lay a branch wastewater pipe.''
She said a project manager was liaising with residents regarding construction and addressing their concerns.