Wastewater scheme key to clean green Mangawhai

 

From the Mangawhai Community Waste Water Scheme (MCWWS) Advisory panel

Members of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme Advisory Panel have been hard at work over the summer months. The Panel has had a number of presentations from professionals to understand how the Scheme got to where it is, the number of connections the Scheme is designed to handle and where to from here. Between them, the members of the Panel also have a wealth of professional knowledge and experience with running national and international companies, infrastructure asset management, industrial chemistry and ecology.

The members of the Panel have read historical reports that show how, for years, run-off from the land surrounding the harbour affected the water quality. Some of the runoff was and still can be attributed to birds and/or livestock. However, as development increased and more and more people were trying to dispose of their wastewater into the same small area of land, greater levels of human waste began to enter the harbour.

Development growth
Think of the land around the harbour in terms of a large cotton ball. The cotton ball stays the same size and can absorb a certain amount of moisture. If more people keep applying moisture the cotton ball can no longer hold all the water and it starts seeping out.

Take a look around development areas and you will quickly notice that Mangawhai is on a growth spurt again. Even greater numbers of people will need to think about how to dispose of their wastewater. People connecting to the wastewater scheme is the logical solution for the community and for the harbour. With everything it has seen and learned, the Advisory Panel is now satisfied that the treatment plant can cope with a minimum of 4,000 connections.

The Advisory Panel has been looking at the existing pipework of the Scheme, where it extends to and where it could be extended to so more people could connect. The Panel has also looked at how any future extensions and connections would be funded, who would own what and who would pay what.

The Advisory Panel now want to take all their collective knowledge, apply it to the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme and possible future options for its expansion and present and discuss these with members of the Mangawhai community. They want to share what they have learned about the Scheme and get feedback on which options are the best for growing connections to the Scheme.

Community feedback
There will be a community day held on Saturday April 4, Easter Saturday at the Mangawhai Domain where you can come along and learn more. There will be display boards that will set out the history; information on the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater; and present a draft funding summary. There will be an opportunity to talk with members of the Panel. You will also be invited to indicate your preferred option as well as provide written feedback.

Interested groups will be contacted over the coming weeks and invited to talk with the Panel on Thursday April 2.

As we get closer to the community day, the Panel will post new information on the website www.kaipara.govt.nz and invite your feedback.

The webpage is also a great way to learn more about the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Community Scheme Advisory Panel and its role.

Mangawhai continues to enjoy a magical summer. People are coming from all over to delight in the Harbour and all the fun things you can do in and on its waters. Many waterside communities find a sudden increase in population puts a strain on their wastewater infrastructure. The Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme saw a huge spike in use over the Christmas/New Year period. The treatment plant handled everything that came its way.

If you want to contact the Advisory Panel you can email the members on advisorypanel@kapara.govt.nz. Panel members from the community are: D’Arcy Quinn, Belinda Vernon, Dr Gordon Hosking, Darryl Reardon, Dr Ian Gordon and Peter Wethey.

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