The public were kicked out of the Tauranga City Council meeting on Tuesday while a mystery industry representative addressed the council over a commercial proposal.
The proposed development will have an 'exceptionally high water and wastewater demand” according to the council report in the public agenda.
The mystery water user will use the equivalent water demand of 1000 houses.
The report states the development will have a water throughput of between 500,000 and 700,000 litres per day or 500-700 tonnes per day with the prospect of it doubling in the longer term.
Five hundred tonnes of water is equivalent to the daily demand for 1000 houses. The standard charges for a 10,000m2 building are based on assumed average demand of 16 tonnes of water per day and nearly 15 tonnes of wastewater per day.
Strategic planner Andrew Mead says establishing the facility under the current development contributions policy means the mystery water user will pay $2.59million in development contributions – based on a 5ha site at $500,000 per hectare plus a citywide development contribution assessed by multiplying 10,000m2 of gross floor area by $35 per square metre.
The city's current charging regime is capped at twice the standard charge - $2.85 million - which does not come near the $7.53million that would be payable if the pricing was based on the infrastructure capacity that will be used up by the consumer.
The mystery developer also wants extra land around the facility as a buffer, the reasons for which are currently being kept confidential.
Council staff are seeking political guidance on whether to pursue a water supply and wastewater charge reflecting the exceptionally high demand, or whether to lower the amount payable to attract the mystery developer because of employment opportunities that may be provided.
The report states the $2.85million required for the mystery user to pay for its use of water and sewer capacity already bought and paid for by ratepayers, may be enough to scare the mystery developer away, in which case they want councillors' permission to lower charges.
10 comments
Public Must HaveA Right To Know
Posted on 26-09-2012 16:05 | By Jitter
The details of this should be made public immediately. If it is a development that is going to affect surrounding then ratepayers they have the right to know immediately. Requiring a buffer zone around the development makes it sound as though it is something using dangerous chemicals or is it another prison ???? Come on TCC stop being so bloody secretive and let the people who pay your salaries know what is going on.
WHO THEN PAYS ... ?
Posted on 26-09-2012 17:14 | By PLONKER
Who ever it is then end result of "discounts" is that ratepayers must then pick up the tab, so can you all remind me of what the benfits are? I agree with Jitter, we need to know who before any final decision on charity throw-aways here.
know it
Posted on 26-09-2012 17:15 | By hapukafin
now you know how your city council operate
Let's hope we get a new business here
Posted on 27-09-2012 08:42 | By Phailed
It will make a change from growth in welfare. The problem when you're addicted to other peoples money is that money eventually runs out.
look at the bigger picture
Posted on 27-09-2012 16:59 | By Alanah
I think if a developement is going to generate money for the city the council should give some encouragement to that developer remember we need to invest in the city and it's future not moan and be small minded about it look to the bigger picture
SUPER SLOOTHS ...
Posted on 27-09-2012 19:38 | By PLONKER
Keeping all the the good stuff secret, looks to be the usual way of things, like anything that has been a complete mess afterwards is always received the maximum amount of secret meetings beforehand. Not all bodes well as it just has that special feeling about it that sends a shiver up your spine to say that another Tsunami is about to arrive.
Hmm
Posted on 28-09-2012 10:10 | By maccachic
May they are bringing back the waterpark at leisure island!!
purify and recycle
Posted on 29-09-2012 17:17 | By bryrose
The developer should put in their own water purification and recycling plant. In the long run this would save the ratepayers and the company alot of money.
you know what to do
Posted on 30-09-2012 20:24 | By Capt_Kaveman
Election time, closed doors should be classed as illegal
FOOD
Posted on 02-10-2012 00:05 | By YOGI
That is what it will be, just need to wash it before processing. Will not be a lot of harm in that water.
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