Council defers Havelock North pump station location decision

Signs calling people's attention to the proposed booster pump station have been placed on the green space at Karanema Drive. Photo/Duncan Brown

Havelock North residents fighting a proposed water booster pump station at Karanema Drive are pleased the Hastings District Council has deferred a decision on the site.

Since November last year, a group of residents had rallied to save a piece of council-owned green space at 25 Karanema Drive. The site is proposed for a pump station to allow potable water to be delivered through a new trunk main to people living at higher points in the village.

Alternative sites were considered, but based on engineering and environmental considerations, the council said the Karanema Drive site, which backed on to Bennelong Place, was the most appropriate.

After concerns were raised, however, the council began exploring an option beside Havelock North Fire Station at 15 Karanema Drive, which residents said was more suited to such industrial activity.

They reinforced their position yesterday, presenting a 309-signature petition from people in Havelock North and other areas in the district.

In talking to the petition Di Vesty said the park was highly valued by the whole community, it was not just a few people being Nimbys (Not in my back yard).

"This is a big community issue - just months ago 5000 people became sick from drinking contaminated water and because of the haste to come up with a solution Havelock North people are being punished again by losing one of its peaceful green spaces."

She said consultation on the pump station location had been poor and the community had not been asked for its opinion.

"I understand you want to remedy the water issues but the cheapest, fastest fix is not always the best solution.

"It's a piece of land under the care of the council but it's owned by all of us - if it's lost now, it's lost forever. At a time when the regional council is asking people to plant five trees a year each to increase biodiversity it's unbelievable this community is having to fight for this reserve."

In a report to yesterday's meeting, council staff outlined the impacts of both sites, including the financial implications.

Their preliminary assessment found a pump station beside the fire station would cost about $1.7 million more than the other site, mainly because the land would have to be bought.

This equated to about a $4 per household targeted rates increase across the district.

The confirmed figures were not available yesterday and councillors agreed to defer a decision until a final purchase price for the 15 Karanema Drive site had been negotiated.

After the meeting Te Mata Rd resident Graeme Putt said he was pleased the council was taking the time to seriously consider the alternative site.

"We can't ask them to agree to something until the full costings have been done - at this stage we are feeling positive."

Fellow resident Barry Jones said if the fire station site was rejected by council, residents would not "roll over" without a fight.