Opposition increasing at Wainui
Tuesday, 22 April, 2008
By Marianne Gillingham

Wainui residents have organised a campaign calling for mass opposition to the council's plans to reticulate their community.

A group representing 336 residents who recently signed a community letter challenging the reticulation proposal, have set up a website, newsletter and help-desk to overcome what they see as minimalist efforts towards consultation.

They quote a council document that states "these processes fall short of what is expected for such a significant decision" which, by the council's own admission, is "a decision that requires a high level of diligence".

The residents are calling on the council to put Wainui reticulation plans on hold until the city's sewage treatment plant is up and running and the full costs are known.

In the meantime, they want the council to systematically test ground and surface water around the beach settlement and ascertain to what extent farm chemicals affect the level of nitrates in their soil from stormwater run-off.

They would also like to see some more positive research on the advantages of self-sufficiency, and education on the maintenance of septic tanks and rainwater collections.

The majority of residents had their first chance to have their say only last week, with the council's annual plan consultation, which was to have covered a broad range of issues.

For most, the only other opportunity came in a form asking them whether they would pay around $26,000 up-front, or over 10 or 20 years, plus GST, plus interest, plus other costs not included in estimates.

The www.wainuibeach.org.nz website sets out the history of this.

The site and the newsletter sum up the main arguments residents have against the reticulation project.

The first one is the cost of over $100 a week per household on top of rates, for the next 20 years.

They say a Wainui ratepayer paying $2116 a year in rates at present, will pay $7147 in rates if the project goes ahead, not including the extra annual charges the reticulated water and sewerage will bring.

They believe there is a common misconception among councillors that Wainui residents are all wealthy.

Residents have done a survey showing that nearly half the population of Wainui Beach and Okitu will be over 65 years old before the 20-year time span is up and will still be paying the debt after they have stopped working.

Most residents bought their beachside homes before the coastal property boom and recent census data shows most residents have incomes of under $50,000 a year, with a significant proportion earning less than $30,000 a year.

Another reason is the lack of evidence of any health or environmental risks associated with the existing rainwater collection and septic tank disposal system.

Further, they say the council steering group's main objective was to develop growth and development options for Wainui, Okitu and Sponge Bay, not health or environmental matters.

These and other arguments have been listed on the newsletter and the website.

Both have simplified the council's submission process, so residents can make their views known individually without going to the council in search of submission forms.

They have set up a help- desk at the school hall on Wednesday, from noon until 8pm, to help residents wanting to make written submissions.

Return to >> NEWS