Water plan sparks fear

Rongotea pensioners say they cannot afford a proposed new water system.

As part of the healthy water programme developed by the Health Ministry, the Manawatu District Council was granted a $2.1 million subsidy for a $2.6m town water supply for Rongotea, but the community has the final say on whether it goes ahead.

The project will cost another $500,000 ($2.6m total). Rongotea residents will be asked to pay $1800 per household, but some pensioners believe this will financially cripple them.

Judith Spittal said she would sell if it went ahead.

"We came to live in the village because of the cost of living and you will see a for sale sign outside our gate if this water supply happens. We simply cannot afford it."

The council will hold a public forum for residents on December 16 to hear what they think of the scheme. Council water manager Wayne Spencer said the choice is the community's to make, not the council's.

Harry de Vries said he could not see how most Rongotea residents would be able to afford it.

"As pensioners we live from one benefit to the next, going into overdraft as needed to pay the bills, yet we are going to be forced to find thousands of dollars in the near future, from out of the sky, to satisfy local council/government, for a water scheme which we don't need, nor want, as ours is better already."

He said not only would it cost the residents $1800 to get the supply in, but it would also cost a lot to reticulate the water from the road to their houses.

"The cost to the household would be astronomical," he said.

Rongotea community committee member and pensioner Trevor Dixon said the council believed their current water tanks were unhealthy to drink from.

"We are immune to our own water, and what sickness have we got here? They [council] can't guarantee the water quality will be better than we currently have, once they add chemicals and whatnot."

Mr Spencer said although the decision was up to the community, the wider issue was about a water supply for the whole community, not individual needs.

The forum will be at 7.30pm at the Te Kawau Memorial Centre in Rongotea.

- © Fairfax NZ News