Ralph Jordan The engineer's notebook

A $13 million contract has recently been awarded for the first stage of construction of the Southern Pipeline from Maleme Street.

It has always puzzled me that this sewerage installation, primarily to service the planned 25,000 sections at Tauriko, always seems to begin some kms away at Maleme Street.

I recently learned that the developers of ‘The Lakes' at Tauriko have already, some years ago, completed the pipework from Tauriko to Maleme Street, possibly with pumping stations en route.

Previous letters to the editor by Graham Clark, myself and others have suggested that a separate sewage treatment plant at Tauriko would be less expensive, less disruptive and more efficient than a 23km long, 900mm dia pipeline – the length of the Tauranga peninsular across the water via Matapihi to an expensively increased capacity treatment plant at Te Maunga.

Over the last couple of years, TCC has attempted to justify the Southern Pipeline by employing expensive consultants to investigate and peer review the cost/benefit ratios of the Southern Pipeline versus a stand alone plant at Tauriko.

This posturing and preening was a total waste of ratepayer funds because the result was a foregone conclusion.

As the developers had already funded and completed the pipework and ancillaries from Tauriko to Maleme Street, TCC wouldn't/ couldn't/ dare not require developers to build and commission a stand alone plant at Tauriko.

This is yet another example of decisions made behind closed doors which the peasantry are required to fund and take responsibility for, whilst those who ‘lord it' over us , play, seriously lobby our elected representatives and make a profit at our expense.