High time to make a stand - Northern Advocate – 29 January 2010

Pollution never sleeps

If you love our streams, waterways and harbour it is now time to put pen to paper or tap the keyboard to make yet another submission against the Resource Consent Application to the ‘discharge of primary treated wastewater’ from the Whangarei District Council Wastewater Treatment Plant into Limeburners Creek. It appears they wish to just shift the problem from the Okara pump station overflows that have been occurring on many occasions over many years. The application is for ‘up to a maximum of 140,000 cubic metres per day.’ That sounds like a lot of poo to me and also the many I have spoken to in regards to this matter. We understand “primary treatment” is to pass the waste through a 70mm mesh. I don’t think that is going to hold back much of what we all put into our sewerage system. A few sanitary items perhaps, but not even items of pleasure will be contained. Let’s all make a stand for Zero tolerance to sewage discharges (unless 100% fully treated) into our precious waterways. Submission forms are available from Northland Regional Council or links on my website www.warrenslater.co.nz and close on Thursday 4th February 2010. It’s time we all said no to this unnecessary pollution, if we lose our harbour we will never replace it. A healthy harbour equates to healthy people. It must be protected for our future generations. Act now. Don’t rely on somebody else to do it!

Warren Slater

Maunu

(Abridged)