Residents want to pull chain on pump system

HINEMOA Point residents are at loggerheads with the Rotorua District Council over a sewerage system they say won't last.
The council wants to install a sewerage system for 62 properties of the eastside lakeside settlement to improve the quality of Lake Rotorua and reduce levels of the bacteria e-coli in the lake. Residents, who will have to contribute about $5600 each to the cost, are unhappy with the type of system the council wants to replace their septic tanks with.
About 40 residents say the system the council wants to install, which runs on electricity, has a limited life and they are worried about what would happen if there was a power cut.
They have two choices but the council prefers what is known as a "low pressure grinder pump" system. The council's works committee chairwoman Glenys Searancke, says it's cheaper and is "tried and true" overseas.
The grinder system will cost each resident an estimated $5600 with the council paying a similar amount per property.
Residents prefer another option, which runs on gravity, even though it is expected to cost twice as much.
Ted Williams, 79, who has lived in the area for 35 years, said he would be happy to go with the more expensive option but questioned the cost the council was quoting.
"My instinct tells me that these figures are heavily skewed to favour the grinder pump option."
More than 40 residents have signed a petition opposing the low pressure system.
Another resident, David Taylor, said he wanted to know the definite cost of connection and establishment of both systems and whether ongoing maintenance would be paid for by residents or the council. He said many residents had limited financial means and subsidies should be available.
Mrs Searancke said the council would borrow money for the system and residents would then have up to 25 years to pay the council back their share of the cost. Some of the cost would be covered by rates.
The council had applied to the Government for a subsidy but was still waiting on a decision.
Mrs Searancke said the low pressure system did have a long life and any replacement of pumps required would be paid by the council.
The council's works committee heard residents' submissions this week but deferred its decision for a fortnight so costs can be finalised. Letters will then be sent to residents asking which option they want.
"If they say 'we don't want either of them', we won't go ahead with it'," Mrs Searancke said.
However, she said if a new system was not installed now, by 2010 Environment Bay of Plenty would force residents to install an on-site effluent system at a cost of between $15,000 and $20,000 each.