Feedback on water wanted

A SNAPSHOT of the water and sanitary services in Manawatu is currently open for public consultation with the Manawatu District Council seeking community feedback on water supply, cemeteries and public conveniences.

Water Manager, Wayne Spencer, said the district’s latest Water and Sanitary Services Assessment (WASSA) had recently been finalised and followed a similar evaluation carried out in 2005.

The services assessed included the district’s water supply, wastewater and stormwater systems, public toilets, cemeteries and solid waste.

“These assessments are ongoing and our recent evaluation has given us a snapshot of services as of March this year,” said Mr Spencer. “As it’s only a snapshot, we know there are likely to be a few gaps and that’s why we want the community’s feedback and views.”

The latest assessment showed that the district’s water capacity was sufficient to cope with expected future demand on current population forecasts.

“However, new drinking water standards, other legislation and stricter resource consents conditions due to come into effect are going to place greater requirements on our activities,” said Mr Spencer.

The council administers eight public cemeteries in the district and with neighbouring public land available was readily able to expand those sites to meet any future needs.

Mr Spencer said the council’s 32 public toilet facilities were at high-use locations with future installations planned for Bunnythorpe, Rongotea and Sanson to meet public demand.

He said re-assessments were normally carried out every six years but council elected to bring this one forward to coincide with the release of the Draft Long Term Council Community Plan 2009-19.

 

“It is one of those important documents that feeds into the LTCCP in terms of what services are provided, what council wants to provide and planned work going forward,” said Mr Spencer. “It is important to get feedback on how the community feels we are doing and what improvements they feel can be made.”

Submissions to WASSA - which is available at the council office and the Feilding Public Library and on the council website, www.mdc.govt.nz  – close on Thursday, May 14