$12m sewage plan approved

THE long awaited decision on a new sewerage treatment system for Masterton has been made.
District councillors yesterday opted for a $12.5 million scheme using the existing oxidation ponds at Homebush and discharging treated effluent on to land as well as into the Ruamahanga River.
The decision means the raising of a 25- year loan and rate increases for urban ratepayers of $143 spread over three years starting next financial year.
Rural ratepayers may be asked to contribute at some later stage, bearing in mind that townspeople have helped finance a scheme at Castlepoint and are likely to soon do so for Riversdale.
One of the biggest advantages to come out of the new scheme will be the cleaning up of the heavily polluted Makoura Stream.
Effluent destined for the Ruamahanga will instead be directed to a new discharge point and run through a rock embankment before entering the river.
Yesterday's decision comes after years of discussion and months of intensive debate involving options ranging from around $9 million to elaborate models of over $30 million.
In the words of councillor Owen Perry, the endless round table discussions on the subject had reached "paralysis by analysis".
The only councillor to vote against the preferred option yesterday was Judith Callaghan.
Mrs Callaghan came out forcefully for far more attention to be paid to the state of the sewage reticulation system in Masterton that she said was the real cause for concern.
Infiltrating stormwater was greatly swelling the volume of wastewater arriving for treatment.
Producing a quart jar of water that she said represented the influx into the sewer, and a small pottle of liquid representing the amount of actual sewage Mrs Callaghan said she had listened to an "awful lot of nonsense" about Masterton's sewerage problems.
"We have no problem with sewage, we have a problem with volume."
She said the sewer line problems have moved along at a "slow worm's pace" because of the procrastination of previous councils and council officers. "I want to see this thing settled before I die, it's utterly ridiculous and I'm sick of it."
Her criticisms were turned aside by Beca consultant Chris Callander who said it was sensible to target the treatment plant first and get that right.
"It would be impractical to rip up the streets in Masterton in one go."
The partial discharge on to land is an innovation for Masterton and will mean that instead of consistent discharges into the river, these will be cut back to times of median flow or better.
Councillors were concerned that the land available at Homebush was close to the bare minimum needed for irrigating wastewater.
It was decided to have an on-going review of additional land disposal sites "whether by purchase or otherwise".
Councillor Brent Goodwin favoured the option of acquiring land that could later be sold if it was not needed.
"I would rather see the money spent on land than for it to go into reserve funds ? we all know what happens then."
Councillor Jane Terpstra said it was hardly necessary to buy more land. It may well be that farmers would welcome free irrigation over summer and the wastewater could be disposed of in that way.
Now that a scheme has been decided on, an assessment of its environmental effects will be carried out, with economic and health impact assessments after that.
It is expected the council will be ready to apply to Wellington Regional Council for resource consent by the middle of next year and for hearings to be completed about the end of next year.
Tenders are due to be called in 2007 with construction to begin either that year or the next year.