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Water (don’t) Care
You would expect better from an Auckland Council appointed organisation, but what do we get. A halt to new wastewater connections in and around Warkworth without a clearly defined timeline. Then a proposal to severely disrupt the heart of the town which, if carried out, would be a disaster for many businesses. There is a solution and it’s staring us in the face – route the pipeline down the Mahurangi River. Either along the bank, under a walkway, or sunk into the river bed. The only problem with this is that they would have to invent floating orange cones and an underwater traffic management system!
Tim Harrison, Wellsford
Park disruptions
Nobody has mentioned before that there will be a works depot at Kowhai Park, where the toilets and caravan/motorhome dump station is located (MM, Jun 10).
So what will happen to the thousands of users?
There is no other facility anywhere. There are hundreds of locals who live permanently in motorhomes and caravans some 10 metres long, and thousands of seasonal visitors who make a big contribution to the local economy who rely on this facility.
What’s the alternative … fly dumping?
Watercare’s chief spin doctor (acting) Brett Evans glib response of, “this is not our first rodeo”, implying “trust us, we know what we’re doing” is chilling when, as usual, no detail of amelioration or plan of how such things are dealt with are revealed by Watercare.
Sven Andersen, Point Wells
Watercare replied: Since we met with the Rodney Local Board in May to seek the board’s feedback, we have identified an alternative site for a proposed ‘laydown’ area during construction of the North-West Growth Pipeline. This alternative site would mean we would no longer need to use Shoesmith Reserve or the Kowhai Park carpark as laydown areas during construction.
However, the public toilet and motorhome dump station would need to be connected to the new wastewater network. There may be a short period of time when they are unavailable to allow us to carry out these connections. We would consider alternative solutions, such as portaloos and a temporary dump station, during this time.
Progress at any cost
Watercare’s plan to tunnel under the main street of Warkworth has serious implications for Warkworth.
In the future, who will want to set up a new shop in the main street knowing of Watercare’s plans. The value of current businesses are already compromised. No wonder businesses are so concerned.
Infrastructure projects in NZ have a bad history of taking longer than planned, and there will be no compensation offered from Watercare.
The planned proposal is a bad news story for Warkworth but just like the Dome Valley landfill, they will both go ahead in the name of progress.
Neil Hatfull, Warkworth
Don’t rip up the town
I write in regards to Watercare, and Auckland Council’s, plans to rip up the town to solve the fact that they have been late in providing the infrastructure needed for growth.
They say they will sit down with the affected parties, but there are other Warkworth residents who enjoy our peaceful and historic town on the Mahurangi River, who may not be consulted, but nonetheless are alive and well.
We don’t want to lose the town parking to the orange cone brigade. We like to shop in the town where we receive friendly service and have done for many years.
If you raise your noses above the projected rate income you see yourselves receiving from the growth, you will see people already here who have an expected lifestyle and income.
Personally, I am not buying into Watercare’s “poor us, we’ve considered all options” explanation.
It seems obvious to me that in their eyes we do not exist and are about to be walked over.
Mary Daynes, Warkworth
