Plans for the stage two upgrade of Dunedin's Tahuna treatment
plant have been rejigged to ease the cost over the next few
years.
However, Dunedin City councillors at yesterday's annual plan
hearing decided not to change the overall timeline of the
project - meaning the upgrade would still be completed by
September 2011, as expected, and at the same overall cost of
$73.8 million.
The council needed to complete the project by then to meet
Otago Regional Council coastal discharge resource consent
requirements.
The rejigged spending meant the cost in 2009-10 would drop by
$5.9 million, from $11.3 million to $5.4 million, but rise in
2011-12 from $18.1 million to $21 million, and in 2012-13
from $22.6 million to $25.8 million, a report by council city
environment general manager Tony Avery said.
The budget shuffle was one of three options considered.
Options two and three involved delaying construction with
extra overall costs of $3 million or $9.3 million
respectively, it said.
Council water and waste services manager John Mackie told
yesterday's meeting there was strong community support to
"get on with the project".
The Tahuna upgrade had been the subject of more public
submissions, many of them "vigorous", than any other in his
four years in the role.
"They support the project and are keen for it to be
completed."
Cr Noone said the report highlighted risks, including trying
to "re-litigate" consent requirements the city council needed
to meet in 2011.
The council had achieved much in upgrading wastewater
services over 20 years, including completion of the city's
1.1km outfall pipe.
Delays would cost money and damage perception of the
council's efforts, he said.
Continuing with the updated "status quo" was the "most
sensible" approach, he said.
Cr John Bezett agreed the cost of delays would be "totally
prohibitive".
