SOLUTION
There are many people out there with ideas on how to fix the ailing sewage problem that is polluting the Whangarei Harbour when raw untreated sewage enters the harbour and waterways.
After discussing with Whangarei District Councillor Brian McLachlan how our group was told of some ideas regarding the sewage issues back in November 2008 I (Warren Slater) was invited by Brian McLachlan to arrange a meeting with this gentleman and a plumber/drain layer who I had previously met with to discuss his ideas on a possible remedy to the sewage problems. The meeting was arranged for and held at 4.00 pm on February 19th 2009 the plumber/drain layer unable to attend.
Mr. Ross Waldron discussed in detail his ideas and plans to both Brian and Warren Slater. His previous attempt to have a meeting with council after phoning the Mayor Stan Semenoff’s office in regards to the sewage issue was not forthcoming with only a call received from Mr Gary Oldcorn, Whangarei District Council Waste and Drainage Manager basically not prepared to listen to Mr Waldron’s ideas.
Mr Waldron has been in the construction, drainage, industrial cleaning and sewage industry for some 30 years and is currently director of RW Septic Tank Services. Many issues were discussed and the meeting concluded at 5.30 pm.
It was most interesting to read an article in the Whangarei Leader 3rd March 2009, Whangarei Report 5th March and Northern Advocate also 5th March all written with information supplied by Councillor Brian McLachlan which outlined many of Ross Waldron’s ideas with no mention of his input to the issue.
Possibly a touch disheartening for someone who freely gave their time and ideas to remedy a problem that has haunted Whangarei for some twenty years. No problem, Ross is a tough cookie and dealt with a lot more S..t than that in his time.
So Yes, “Save Our Harbour’ has been working away looking for solutions to the problem, researching the subject, surveying the submission process, dealing with environmental advisors and generally collating information. Perhaps one day the council, who on many occasions, state through the media, they want consultation, may wish to meet with us and enter into dialogue in the lead up to the LTCCP (Long Term Council Community Plan).
Obtaining some of the information to enable us to have informed debate on the issue, has at times been hard, as requests for information that we need to have facts on, has been withheld and only available by Official Information Act requests to council, which have resulted in them attempting to frighten us off with expensive quotes to supply the information.
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Ross is happy to share his ideas and they are to prevent the entry of stormwater entering the sewerage system in the first place to protect our harbour and waterways for future generations.
His belief is this is possibly the most serious issue affecting the situation of the necessity to discharge untreated raw sewage.
1. Raising the level of gully traps preventing surface water entering
them.
2. To seal, possibly with silicone sealant, the cast iron man hole
covers that are normally on the lowest sections of our roads and
fill with water during rainfall and our often floods funnelling the
water into the sewerage system.
3. Inspections of all properties by a competent team, contracted to
Council, checking for both illegal and accidental connections to
the waste water system, carrying out the appropriate repairs to
remedy these and the cost of repairs to illegal ones being
recuperated by council but getting the problems fixed when they
are found.
4. There are also issues of either spring water or town supply water
entering the sewerage system and tests can be executed by the
successful contractor to check for these.
5. There are other ideas that Ross has in the treatment of the water
as it leaves the treatment plant.
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Because Ross Waldron has openly and freely offered his ideas and solutions to ‘Save Our Harbour’ in their aim to protect the Whangarei Harbour for the future generations of Whangarei, we sincerely believe he should be invited by the Whangarei District Council to tender for the remedial work if he so wishes to submit a price to contract.
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Whilst every attempt has been made to portray the facts Save Our Harbour does not necessarily endorse the views of all, but acknowledges their support. Articles posted on this site are the opinions of the authors and are provided to support the Save our Harbour viewpoint of ‘Zero Tolerance to the discharge of raw untreated sewage into the Whangarei Harbour and waterways’.
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