Legal opinion sought on Coromandel wastewater

A legal opinion is being sought on whether enough consultation took place before Thames-Coromandel District Council decided to fund wastewater district wide.

That decision, in 2003, has led to ratepayers across the district paying towards the three new wastewater plants in Whitianga, Whangamata and Pauanui.

With a combined price tag of more than $60 million, these plants have increased rates bills by several hundred dollars and caused animosity among some ratepayers.

Councillor Bill Barclay, who put forward the motion asking for a legal opinion, said the main issue centred on consultation after the real cost of the plants was learnt in 2005.

Previously the three plants had been estimated to cost about $26m.

"I believe it needs to be clarified whether the consultation that took place in 2006 adequately covered the issue," Mr Barclay said.

"I'm not saying one thing or the other but there is great doubt in my mind whether adequate consultation took place at the time and whether that consultation complied with the (Local Government Act)."

Thames-Coromandel District Mayor Philippa Barriball said there were a lot of submissions on wastewater funding in 2006.

"Everyone had a lot to say," she said.

However, she voted to support Mr Barclay's motion, as did Deputy Mayor Adrian Catran and Councillors Dal Minogue, Bill Barclay and Strat Peters.

Councillors Dirk Sieling and Jan Bartley voted against the motion. Mr Sieling said he thought the motion was "a total nonsense".

"We have had a multitude of motions related to this."

He said Mr Barclay was trying to look at the districtwide funding of wastewater in isolation when funding should be reviewed across the board.

CEO Steve Ruru said his "gut feeling" was that the legal opinion would be complex and could cost the council about $20,000.

- © Fairfax NZ News