"As part of my ongoing discussions with the Talley group in Motueka, I became involved in the ongoing problems that company was having with the district council over their proposed new wastewater treatment scheme."
He was one of the signatories to the open letter to the council published in the Chronicle earlier this month. Like the others, he was alarmed at the cost of the new plant, as well as the annual operating costs of around $7 million.
Mr Johnson said he contacted Talleys' expert who said building the plant to his plan would take only a year, as compared with three years for the council option designed by Cardno BTO.
"This alternative plan would use the existing lagoon and cover it with a membrane to arrest odour, it wouldn't require any aerators because aeration wasn't needed with this design. And there'd be no need to dispose of any sludge for at least four years.
"If the council adopted this alternative, then I know all the wet industries would continue to use this system at an affordable price both for them and certainly the ratepayers.
"At a meeting on June 10, we presented new council chief executive officer Kym Fell with this design option. When he asked 'How long do we keep looking at alternative proposals?' I suggested the answer was until the council finds the best solution."
Mr Johnson said the council was being urged not to sign up to the Cardno design until they've had an urgent presentation from the Talleys group's consultant.
"Talleys have used this consultant for the last 15 years at all their wastewater plants and he's never let them down."