MEDIA RELEASE

Kawakawa Bay Decision Disappoints Manukau Water

Public Meeting Planned For March 13

Manukau City (5 March , 2007) – A Joint Hearings Committee of the Auckland Regional Council and Manukau City Council has declined an application by Manukau Water Limited to build a vacuum pump station for the proposed Kawakawa Bay Wastewater Scheme.

Other significant aspects of the project, including the main wastewater treatment plant, have had their consent applications approved (albeit with some conditions), but the pump station consent has been declined mainly because it was to be sited on a recreational reserve. The committee has ruled that a more suitable site could potentially be found.

Manukau Water Limited is extremely disappointed that the project will now be delayed further and the beaches and streams of Kawakawa Bay will not be available for recreational and community use for at least another three years.

Manukau Water Limited chief executive Raveen Jaduram said it is his intention to move urgently to minimise the cost impact of the decision and any further delays to this important project.

The Kawakawa Bay Wastewater Scheme is already an $18.3 million commitment to the community. The scheme was initiated in 2003 at the request of Manukau City Council, to address the high health risks and ongoing environmental contamination from failed private wastewater systems in Kawakawa Bay. The community currently consists of approximately 600 people but Manukau Water Limited is committed to spending a large sum to clean up the areas polluted local streams and the coastal area.

Manukau Water Limited is now at the point where it cannot proceed with this project and is in the process of suspending the construction contract. While there will be some minor work over the next few weeks, full construction will only recommence when all consents are granted. This could be 12 months or even longer and commissioning the scheme is likely to be more than three years away.

Manukau Water Limited now plans to:

 Appeal the decision on the Community Hall recreation reserve and do all that is necessary to mitigate its impact on the reserve and any potentially-affected homeowners or residents;
 Formally apply for a consent to site the vacuum pumping station at Whitford Point, after consulting with Iwi and the ARC over this location.

Manukau Water Limited is also open to any other suggestions – provided there is full Kawakawa Bay community support for whatever is suggested and it will not result in further costly delays

Manukau Water Limited will be holding a public meeting on March 13 at 7 p.m. in the Kawakawa Bay Community Hall.

At the meeting, the company will discuss the ways forward that has been set out in this statement and will seek full endorsement from the Kawakawa Bay community on what it plans to do.

About Manukau Water

Manukau Water Limited is responsible for the management of the public water distribution and wastewater collection systems for the people of Manukau.

The company serves approximately 338,000 people living in an area covering 552 square kilometres from Mangere, Pakuranga and Howick in the north to Manurewa in the south. It manages infrastructure assets worth nearly $1 billion.

Manukau Water is owned by the Manukau City Council and is not required to generate a commercial return on its assets. Its aim is to ensure the lowest prices consistent with meeting its operating goals to deliver high quality and reliable products and services.

ENDS

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