Even with a Government subsidy to help
upgrade the Lake Roxburgh village drinking water supply, the
project is probably still unaffordable, Roxburgh Community
Board members believe.
"We're talking 90 people [in the settlement, formerly the
Roxburgh hydro village] and a scheme that will cost probably
$400,000 or $500,000 by the time it's under way," board
member John Lane said yesterday.
The board was considering a report on the reopening of
Ministry of Health subsidies to upgrade small communities'
drinking water supplies. The report, by Central Otago
District Council water services manager Russell Bond, said
the board was obliged to meet the drinking water standards in
the Health Amendment Act 2007.
"If we say we are going to achieve the drinking water
standards for Lake Roxburgh, we're just tying a noose around
our neck," Mr Lane said.
Board chairman Stephen Jeffery agreed.
"We may never be able to afford to meet the standards, so it
would be hard to pass a recommendation that says we will. Is
it achievable?"
To be eligible for the drinking water subsidy, communities
must have a "deprivation index" of seven or greater. The
index is calculated using census data and other information
on the make-up of a community, including school decile
numbers, information from Housing New Zealand and the
Ministry of Social Development.
Within the Central Otago district, nine water supplies need
to be upgraded, but only two - Roxburgh township and Lake
Roxburgh village - meet the deprivation index criteria.
Upgrading the Roxburgh water supply has started, using a 70%
subsidy from the Ministry of Health, which leaves a shortfall
of about $100,000.
The council has applied for a subsidy for the Lake Roxburgh
scheme, but has yet to hear whether its application has been
successful. The subsidy is based on population, and capped at
$1000 per resident, so the Lake Roxburgh scheme would attract
a maximum subsidy of $90,000, Mr Bond said.
The original estimate was $368,900.
Under the health legislation, the board has to "take all
reasonably practicable steps" to attain drinking water
standards.
"They want you to do the best you can, but I don't believe
any politician will bankrupt a community to achieve these
standards," Mr Bond said.
The board agreed to comply with the drinking water standards
for Roxburgh but to "endeavour to take all practicable steps"
to comply at Lake Roxburgh.
lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz
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