Council puts things right in Mangakino

Following wastewater overflows at the Mangakino Wastewater Treatment Plant two years ago, Council is taking action and putting restorative projects in place to compensate the Mangakino community.

A number of contributing factors, including unusually high rain fall, impacted on the Mangakino wastewater sewerage system which led to an overflow onto nearby land.  At the time, Council had identified an upgrade was required and this was underway but unfortunately was not fully operational.

As a result of the overflow, Council was prosecuted by Environment Waikato.  Instead of paying a fine, the two parties worked with the Mangakino community to identify restorative projects to be carried out to benefit the community.  Taupo District Council put aside $15,000 towards a new irrigation and treatment process to provide irrigation to the golf course, $10,000 towards a community garden and $5,000 to research the stormwater flow into the wastewater system.

Council’s Infrastructure and Parks Manager Ted Anderson apologises for the incident and says Council has put in place initiatives to prevent an overflow happening again.  $3m has been invested in wastewater infrastructure in the Mangakino area in the past few years. 

“We were aware of the issues and were in the process of upgrading the plant but unfortunately we weren’t fast enough.  We have worked with the Mangakino community and Environment Waikato to make things right.”

The proactive stance from Council has paid off with Judge Harland (the Judge who ruled the case) congratulating TDC on its attitude and enthusiasm for the restorative justice process.  “It’s a positive outcome and I think that you personally can take a lot of credit for the responsible manner in which the matter was resolved,” she said.