Hopes for good turnout

MANAWATU District Council is hoping there will be a good turnout of Rongotea residents at a public meeting to discuss whether the community wants a $2.6 million water supply installation for the town.

The meeting - in the Te Kawau Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday, December 16 - follows Government approval of a $2.1 million subsidy (80 percent) for the installation of the reticulated water scheme.

Water Manager, Wayne Spencer, said the community would have to fund only $500,000 at a cost of about $1800 per property. Around 270 houses in the town use tank water.

Government also advised that the proposed project could not start before January 1 2010 and would have to be completed within two years.

Mr Spencer said all property owners were being sent a notice of the meeting this week and hoped many would take the opportunity to discuss what the latest development meant to them.

“Council is excited to offer the Rongotea community the choice to install a reticulated water supply at a greatly subsidised cost,” he said. “Come along to the meeting and help decide your community’s future.”