Wastewater scheme abandoned

After six years of consultation and investigation, Kaipara District Council has decided not to proceed with a communal wastewater solution in central Paparoa, avoiding an estimated $1.5 million spend.

Council first started looking at a wastewater solution for the town in 2018 after concerns that damaged septic tanks and poorly functioning effluent fields were contaminating open drains that emptied into the Paparoa Stream and, eventually, the Kaipara Harbour.

After initially looking at a scheme to service 28 residential and commercial properties, it was determined that 21 sites could resolve their issues themselves.

A key finding of the investigation was that the remaining seven properties, which are all commercial, could correct their issues within their property boundaries, although some would face the full costs of a new wastewater treatment system and disposal field.

In a few cases, the businesses would not be able to accommodate a wastewater disposal field and would have to either install a holding tank and operate as dry retail only (second-hand shop, bookstore or clothing store, but not an eatery, hair salon or butchers shop) or make an agreement with a neighbour to plumb into their wastewater system, particularly where that neighbouring system was about to be fully replaced.

Council acknowledged that the risk of not building the scheme was that businesses could close due to not having a proper wastewater system, and shops and services could start setting up outside the village centre or in other settlements – gradually detracting from Paparoa’s “village in the valley” feel.

The report said some businesses might have the means to fund repairs to their properties, while others might need to sell to a new owner who had the required capital.

“Either way, bills would need to be paid, decisions made and losses borne,” the report said.

It noted that while some properties were facing costly repairs, most were facing more affordable repairs and some had already made their repairs.

Council agreed to work with affected property owners and the Paparoa Wastewater Group to support property owners in working through the issues facing their systems.

Mayor Craig Jepson said the decision was a cost-effective solution, but Cr Pera Paniora said she was not comfortable “walking away from this”. She said council did not yet know what Local Water Done Well might look like and what opportunities it might present.