4 December 2018
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Te Arawa Lakes Trust news release opposing Rotorua Lakes Council wastewater treatment system resource consent application
Enquiry
We have just been sent a media release from Te Arawa Lakes Trust saying it voted on Friday to oppose the Rotorua Lakes Council's application to discharge treated wastewater in the lake.
I've just spoken to Sir Toby Curtis and he said the council has been made aware of the trust's position and has a copy of the statement, but I've attached also just in case.
I specifically would like to know the following if possible:
Is the council disappointed the trust no longer supports this application?
As a key partner of the council's, what impact will this have on the council's plan?
MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until 5pm, Friday 30 November 2018
TALT opposes proposed wastewater discharge
The Trust responsible for the ownership of the Lake Rotorua lakebed, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, will oppose an application by Rotorua Lakes Council to discharge treated wastewater into the lake.
Rotorua Lakes Council (RLC) is seeking resource consent to upgrade its existing Rotorua Wastewater Treatment Plant, and a new discharge of treated wastewater to the Te Arikiroa Channel and Lake Rotorua at Puarenga Bay (Sulphur Bay).
A total of 15 resource consents are required to support the wastewater plant upgrade - ten lodged by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and five from RLC. It is the RLC resource consent applications which propose the discharge of treated wastewater into Te Arikiroa Channel and Lake Rotorua at Puarenga Bay (Sulphur Bay).
All of the resource consent applications have been directly referred to the Environment Court.
Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT) made the decision at its Trust meeting today.
Trust chairman Tā (Sir) Toby Curtis says the Trust determined that the wastewater discharge proposal would be a direct conflict with the position of the ahi kā / mana whenua for the lake, and in relation to its values with the Te Tūāpapa o Ngā Wai o te Arawa (Te Arawa Cultural Values framework).
As a Trust, we are responsible for the sustainable and responsible oversight and management of Te Arawa's settlement assets - including the region's 14 lakes.
The Trust supports the upgrade of the wastewater plant and the method of treating the wastewater, however, we cannot support the discharge of this water into Te Arikiroa Channel and Lake Rotorua.
We have outlined our original position in a number different ways and forums in recent years, but have today officially confirmed this decision as a Trust.
We acknowledge that RLC has gone to a great deal of effort in an attempt to consider cultural values for this project, which has included the development of a contact bed' to restore the mauri of the water before it reaches the lake.
However, we also acknowledge and support the genuine concern of local hapū that the contact bed does not sufficiently address their concerns, says Tā Toby.
Local hapū concerns include a loss of mana and the belittling of Rangatiratanga through an unacceptable activity; a loss of mana to an ancestoral icon; that the association of the lake with wastewater is perceived as an offence; and that the discharge would have a significant negative impact on the ability to harvest, cook and clean in and around the area.
We support these concerns. In addition, we are also concerned about the potential negative impact of 20 million litres of treated wastewater entering the lake every day.
Our focus is much wider than our environmental work, with social, economic and cultural objectives forming a key part of our work and decision making. This is a good example of where these wider objectives need to be considered through our decision making.
Tā Toby says TALT will continue to work with RLC as it works through its wastewater upgrade development process.
ENDS
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
Environmentally the recovered water from the upgraded wastewater treatment plant will be the cleanest water entering the lake from any source, including all streams, and will be significantly cleaner than the lake itself.
For environmental and cultural reasons the landowners say the current land disposal system in Whakarewarewa Forest cannot continue. We explored alternative options but there are no viable, affordable land disposal alternatives.
As part of what's now proposed we thought and believed we had a method of cultural treatment that was acceptable, so we were really surprised and disappointed that at this late stage Te Arawa Lakes Trust has expressed a different view.
We will continue working with our key stakeholders and partners. This is a very important project for our community and we need a solution that finds a balance between environmental outcomes, cultural aspirations, community affordability, practicality and what's achievable.
We'll reflect on the material we have now received from Te Arawa Lakes Trust and will consult our Te Arawa partners regarding the implications.
