16 April 2019

Media: NZME

Topic: Proposed Tarawera sewerage scheme

Interview

Reporter interviewed Council's infrastructure group manager Stavros Michael and Glenn Snelgrove, chair of the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme Committee:

The interview started with Stavros and Glenn providing background about the project as well as highlighting what they do as part of the project before Caroline asked a few questions which covered:

Are there concerns/ division within the community about scheme for Tarawera?

What do you says to concerns about the cost, which is estimated at about $25k per household?

Are there misconceptions within the community about this project?

Both kaikōrero (speakers) reiterated the following key points to the reporter:

The community had asked Council to support the development of a sewerage scheme for the area

The reason for a scheme is to ensure the health of the lake and the health of the community which use it

We are mindful about the cost of the scheme which is estimated to be about $12m and the steering committee has managed to secure government funding of about $8m to put towards this project

Council and the Steering Committee are aware that there are some residents who have concerns about a one-off fee of $25k to connect to new capital infrastructure and we are telling them Council will look at ways to help them (No payment spreading option is available at present)

The biggest misconception about the project is a sense of flush and forget mentality', undertaking this work encourages people to think about where their wastewater is going

Glenn provided the reporter with an example of investigation work which the steering committee had undertaken. At one property, they poured orange dye down a bath tub and saw it appear in a plume in Lake Tarawera

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Media: Rotorua Weekender

Topic: Anzac Day

Enquiry

I was just wondering if I would be able to get a few extra comments to add to my Weekender Anzac Day story, based around the services which will be taking place on Anzac Day?

- How does it feel to see members of the community come together for these services each year? Why is this coming together of the community important?

- How have you found the turn-out to be over the last few years?

Response

From Mayor Steve Chadwick:

Both the Dawn Service at Ohinemutu and the Civic service later in the day, are very important to so many people in our community. Over the last four years the national WW100 commemorations has bought a renewed focus to ANZAC Day and other military commemorations and we are seeing all generations well represented at both services. I am very much looking forward to our community coming together again next Thursday as we remember those who fought for our country and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.