Authority opposed to Waikato discharge

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 18

Authority opposed to Waikato discharge

PA Hamilton A stretch of the Waikato River eyed by the Auckland Regional Authority for future water intake lies just downstream of a proposed fellmongery and tannery complex at Mercer. Auckland Regional Authority officials in Hamilton last week for the continuation of a Waikato Valley Authority Tribunal hearing pressed the W.V.A. to apply strict conditions if it decided to grant a water right allowing the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Cooperative to discharge treated effluent into the river. The Auckland officials

said that the W.V.A. had good reasons to reject the company’s application to take and discharge water. They questioned the river’s ability to diffuse the ■ effluent over the short distance before it entered the proposed intake zone and they warned of the potential for pollution accidents associated with plants using chemicals. The A.R.A.’s head water scientist, Mr David Ogilvie, said that at present the river’s water, sampled at Mercer, needed only simple physical and chemical treatment to produce excellent drinking water, and a drop in standard would double

the A.R.A’s cost to purify degraded water. The W.V.A.’s tribunal first sat on October 10, when Tainui Maori leaders pleaded for the preservation of the river’s tapu (sanctity) and purity. After the second round of hearings last week, W.V.A. staff are preparing a summary of evidence and the tribunal may hear further submissions. The freezing company has so far gained planning clearance from the Franklin County Council to site the proposed $lO million complex at the river’s junction with the Mangatawhiri tributary. However, appeals are pending.