Mark Lewis
Ōtorohanga District Council has confirmed the drinking water component of the Arohena Rural Water Supplies – Kahorekau, Huirimu and Taupaki, will revert to stock supplies by
the end of the financial year.
Council group manager of engineering and assets Mark Lewis presented a report at a council meeting last week following a referendum outcome.
Mark Lewis
This report was part of a process started about 18 months ago to close down the drinking water component of the Arohena Rural Water Scheme
A binding referendum – 78 out of 81 backed resorting to a stock supply – paved the way for the closure. To bring the supply as it is up to compliance would have cost an estimated $6 million.
“This is basically the legislative requirement that the council adopts the results and we carry on and close down the drinking water from those three water supplies in a timely fashion,” Lewis said.
Councillor Jo Butcher asked if the Arohena Hall would have a new self-supply drinking water system by 2027.
“Everything has to be completed by the March 31 date. We’re putting together some pricing on that work now,” Lewis said. “We won’t necessarily wait until that end date to put that in place. But it has to be up and running by the end date.
