Submission to WDC Long Term Council Community Plan.

We submit the following key messages that we want the Council to act on:

1. We have a Zero tolerance to Whangarei District Council (WDC) discharging raw, untreated sewage into our Harbour and waterways.

To continue discharging untreated, raw sewage into the Harbour in the 21^st century is completely inappropriate and unnecessary. We are strongly opposed to the WDC discharging up to 24 000 m3 from Okara Pump Station into the Whangarei harbour. We are equally opposed to WDC applying to discharge 35,000 m3 (of raw, untreated sewerage) per day during wet conditions into the Waiarohia Stream.

WDC must not apply to continue current sewage discharge practice for 35 more years - the current application for 5 years is too long

This practice overwhelmingly conflicts with the Whangarei District Council’s own vision of creating “The Ultimate Living Environment.”

It also undermines and negatively impacts on all of the cornerstones of wellbeing that WDC is legally obliged to address: Economic, Environmental, Social, Cultural.

2. If the Harbour is healthy, the people are healthy.

We want the Whangarei Harbour’s water quality restored to a level that ensures that the Harbour is safe for physical contact; and people are safe from contaminants found in human sewage when using the harbour for recreation (swimming, waka ama, kayaking, kite and windsurfing, sailing, snorkelling) fishing, and gathering kaimoana.

Currently the Harbour’s waters are unsafe for people – the waters have been so compromised by sewage that people are risking serious illness by accessing it physically, and by taking food from it.

3.The Whangarei Harbour is a taonga. It has enormous cultural significance to Tangata Whenua, and for many in our communities.

Maori when consulted on the issue of discharging raw sewage into the Harbour clearly stated “that they found the concept repugnant“.

The shellfish beds in the harbour are closed for a month after each spill. There were nine spills from Okara pump station last year resulting in the beds being closed for 9 months of the year!

The contaminants found in raw sewage and therefore in shellfish, exposes people to contact with noro-virus, and other serious illnesses.

As the economic recession deepens more people are relying on the Harbour as a valuable food resource. A survey has shown that half of Maori in Northland consume food taken from the sea at least once a fortnight (Northland District Health Board’s Public Medical Health Officer Dr Jarman).

4. None of the options outlined by council focus on the cause of the overloading, and will not resolve Whangarei’s ageing and failing system.

* None of the Council’s options involve reducing stormwater infiltration, which Council already agrees is the main cause of sewage problems.

* Contrary to clear community wishes, the LTTCP (p72) proposes reduced or deferred funding for wastewater rehabilitation and renewals, for system upgrades, for reducing infiltration.

* It is no longer extreme storm conditions, that are resulting in sewage spills. Overflows are occurring after only moderate rain.

* If we deal with the stormwater, we will have dealt with the problem (a Feb 09 spillage from Okara occurred between 3am and 6am, when rainfall was at its peak and sewage use was at its minimum ).

* Option 1: The $ 4 million second pipeline will only result in transferring the problem to Limeburners Creeks. The WWTP is already overloaded, and overflowing in wet conditions.

Options 2, 3, 4 simply mean more storage tanks, not fixing the problem.

* Therefore we do not want the council to implement any options outlined.

5. What we want WDC to do.

* Budgeted money in the Plan MUST be re-prioritised to focus on fixing and upgrading the faulty sewerage system – I.e. preventing infiltration of stormwater from ALL sources.

* There is $57 million budgeted for sewerage infrastructure and land purchase in the Ruakaka and One Tree Point areas in the LTCCP.

The 1600 households there presently, or even the projected number of 2100 in 10 years, should not attract over twice the planned sewerage expenditure, than the 23,000 houses currently connected to the Whangarei Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Those 23 000 households are experiencing enormous problems which must be addressed immediately. WDC should re-direct the $57 million to fixing Whangarei’s sewerage system’s immediate and extensive problems.

* WDC must complete network modelling as soon as possible to identify the sources of infiltration from gully traps, illegal connections, and cracked/broken pipes, and other possible sources e.g. the high water table in CBD.

* The work to resolve the identified issues must then begin promptly and intensively, to ensure problems are resolved quickly and further spills prevented.

* Reduce the mesh size on the outfall pipe at Okara. 80mm is far too large to screen out gross solids.

* Comply with the conditions of the 1996 Coastal Permit as instructed by the Minister of Conservation. WDC were supposed to minimise the exercise of the consent by progressively upgrading the sewerage system in the catchment served by Okara Pump station so that:

I) Overflows are reduced, and

2) Levels of infiltration and direct stormwater inflow to the sewerage system is reduced so that peak wet weather flows at the pump station do not exceed five times the average dry weather flows.

There are more issues that we / I would like to submit upon, including (write in this space or in attached papers):

I / we wish to be heard in support of this submission : Yes No (Underline one)

The best date that would suit me (if speaking to Council) is: (underline one)

25 May 26 May 27 May 28 May

Yours sincerely

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(Name, Postal Address, Phone number, Email)

Note: Submissions are due in Council hands by 5pm on Friday 8 May (can be delivered to Forum North; if posted in time for delivery, mail to WDC, Private Bag 9023, Whangarei 0140)