The Dunedin City Council is to reconsider its refusal to connect a West Harbour hamlet to the city's sewerage network after receiving a petition.
The issue will be discussed at the council's infrastructure services committee meeting in Dunedin today, following the presentation of a petition to council staff, signed by 93 residents, on February 2.
About 20 homes in the area were believed to rely on septic tanks, and many residents were unhappy the contents were causing a stink by spilling on to the foreshore area.
Council water and waste services manager John Mackie told the Otago Daily Times the reassessment followed good progress implementing the council's new Reticulated Utility Services (Water, Wastewater or Stormwater) Policy.
The policy provided a framework to consider the Blanket Bay situation, as well as other similar communities wanting to be connected to the council's network, he said.
Previous attempts by residents to have the problem resolved had been rebuffed, most recently in March 2007 when a feasibility study was undertaken.
It found capacity issues during times of peak flow could put pressure on the area's existing pipes, which also serviced Port Chalmers and Sawyers Bay.
Blanket Bay properties were also outside the area zoned for council reticulation, and the council lacked a formal policy on extending services, he said.
Yesterday, Mr Mackie said today's discussion could lead to the 2007 feasibility report being revised, but he did not expect specific options to be discussed at this stage.
If, ultimately, it was decided to connect the properties to the city's network, he expected the cost would be less than $1 million.
