Media Release

17 October 2003

Minister approves $30 million for community sewerage schemes

Health Minister Annette King has today approved subsidies for sewerage schemes to a further 12 communities.

Under the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme, the Minister approved provisional applications for subsidies totalling $30.3 million.

Ministry of Health spokesman Paul Prendergast said the subsidy scheme was announced in May 2002 to help disadvantaged small to medium-sized communities upgrade or build new sewerage systems or sewage treatment plants.

The communities and values of subsidy approved in the latest round are:

- Russell (Far North District Council) $2.45 million
- Kawakawa (Far North District Council) $1.4 million
- Waitakaruru (Hauraki District Council) $0.37 million
- Rukumoana Avenue (Matamata-Piako District Council) $0.28 million
- Kihikihi (Waipa District Council) $3.4 million
- Piopio (Waitomo District Council) $1.34 million
- Omokoroa (Western Bay of Plenty District Council) $7.35 million
- Mangaweka (Rangitikei District Council) $0.21 million
- Renwick (Marlborough District Council) $4.1 million
- Greymouth (Grey District Council $7.55 million
- Southbridge (Selwyn District Council) $1.7 million
- Fairlie (Mackenzie District Council) $0.18 million

The latest round of subsidies brings to 15 the number of communities that have had provisional subsidies approved from a total of 73 applications.

The Minister has also approved an amendment to the qualifying criteria for the scheme.

The amendment gives local authorities more flexibility in sourcing funds for their financial contribution which must match the funding provided by the scheme.

Mr Prendergast, the Ministry's principal public health engineer, said the source of this Equivalent Contribution had caused difficulty for some councils.

"This scheme is a partnership between local government and the Crown, and we want to do everything we can to make eligible sewerage schemes affordable for the benefiting community."

Far North District Council has received its first funding approvals under the scheme. The Russell and Kawakawa schemes are among 22 applications from the Far North.

In Greymouth, the government subsidy will provide major assistance in implementing the $27 million scheme which will stop untreated sewage being discharged into the Grey River. This has been a council objective for more than 30 years.

Rukumoana Avenue, a small Maori community south of Morrinsville, is a classic example of a community that suffers from poor sanitation and where progress would not be possible without a subsidy.

The provisionally-approved applicants will now obtain resource consents and prepare design and tender documents before applying for final approval from the Minister.

ENDS

© Scoop Media