The Clutha District Council has decided to split the cost of new sewerage systems in Benhar and Tokoiti in half, with 50% funded by the townships and the remainder shared across the district.
Addressing councillors at the meeting yesterday, Ray Gouman, who lives on Mt Wallace Rd, in Benhar, said residents understood and accepted the need for a better sewage disposal system. He asked for financial support under option B - which applied harmonisation across the district at varying levels of assistance - but asked councillors to choose carefully.
"Think about your vote today and how it will affect people," he said.
Tokoiti resident Lynn Smart said residents had been failed by the council several times over the years when Tokoiti was not included in the negotiations with the Corrections Department when pipelines were put in for the Otago Corrections Facility.
"The pipes run right past Tokoiti. We feel we have been thrown under the bus."
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan made an unsuccessful motion to adopt the council's previously preferred option which would mean 41% and 34% of the base capital costs for the sewerage schemes in Benhar and Tokoiti were paid for by those respective communities, 10% shared across the whole district, and the remaining 49% and 56% respectively funded by a uniform costs spread across all sewerage connections.
Cr Hamish Anderson recommended a compromise through a 50-50 splitting of costs. This would comprise a district-wide component of 10%, with 40% from sewerage scheme connections, and the remaining 50% from Benhar and Tokoiti.
The district-wide contribution would add about $10 to all residents' rates.
"I think that's a reasonable compromise. I know that wherever we go in the district there will be people facing a degree of hardship. We are facing a health issue. We can achieve more collectively than as individuals - we can provide a good sewerage system for Benhar and Tokoiti.
"These schemes are not going to go forward without help."
Cr Anderson's recommendation was passed by 10 votes - Crs Bruce Graham and Bruce Vollweiler voted against the motion, and Crs John Cochrane and Hilary McNab were absent.
Cr Graham said he had looked around Tokoiti and saw no footpaths, street lights or swimming pools, despite being rated for those facilities. His comments supporting a higher level of assistance were agreed with by some other councillors including Crs Finch and Davis, who voted for the 50-50 split.
The schemes are estimated to cost $1.1 million for Benhar, and $717,000 for Tokoiti.
Benhar, Clydevale, Papatowai, Pounawea, Tahakopa, Taieri Mouth, Tokoiti, and Toko Mouth have many septic tanks and lack reticulated systems.
Mr Cadogan said the next step was for the council to award the tenders, before moving "pretty quickly" into the construction, which needed to be done before winter.
