By Jason Collie
AUCKLAND - Fixing the cracks in the sewerage which caused Monday's big sewage overflows on the North Shore could still take at least five years.
The North Shore City Council - which warned swimmers away from six beaches after 16 pumping stations overflowed - is still working on plans for its wastewater systems, although it will be in a position to ask ratepayers next year how deep they want to dig into their pockets to fix the overflows.
The council has said it will spend $50 million to $100 million over five to 15 years, but is not sure what effect that will have on rainwater leaking into the wastewater system, causing pumping stations to overflow.
The director of water services, Geoff Mason, said residents would be given a range of budgets with likely outcomes when the council had more information late next year to decide how far they want to go to fix the problem.
He said that spending about $150 million a year would cut overflows - at present about one a month - to about one a year.
"We need to tell them what the costs are and what performance they can expect to achieve and how quickly it will be done," Mr Mason said. "Sydney is spending $2 billion on their sewerage network and estimate they will have two to four overflows and they are accepting that.
"We need to find out what people are prepared to tolerate. We talk about such large amounts of money that we need to consult the community and ask for their input."
Sixteen pumping stations overflowed after almost 40mm of rain fell on Monday.
Signs warning against swimming were put up at six beaches - Narrow Neck, St Leonards, Milford, Mairangi Bay, Browns Bay and Waiake - and they were still there yesterday.
Bacteria levels from testing at those beaches were expected today.
"It was a significant overflow event," said Mr Mason.
One major step towards combating overflows in Devonport will be complete by the end of the year, he said.
Work in the area discovered old storage tanks at the Northboro pumping station, which the council believes will cut overflows from 27 a year to one every two years.
Mr Mason said it would also ease pressure on other pumping stations further north towards the Rosedale plant, most notably Wairau Rd.
Sewage solution may take five years
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