The band wagon just got another warrant of fitness and it's time ot fire it up! As you all know the council is planning on putting a pipeline from the Bromley treatment plant out to sea (2kms out to be precise). I think is is a decent solution for improving the crappy water quality in the Estuary, and campaigned vociferously (I didn't actually, I sifted down to the council on a number of occaisions whining, I just like saying 'vociferous')

BUT...all is not what it seems, the water coming out of the pipe, although cleaner than currently be discharged into the estuary (a faecal coliform count of 10 000) will still have a faecal colifom count of about 1000. This is still poo in anyone's language!

The council's position is that the current will disperse the water to such a degree that the poo count will vanish before your pink and salty eyes. Unless of course, Christchurch gets bigger. And the chances of that, according ot the council, are about 100%. In fact their current thinking suggests that within about 5 years the Bromley plant will start dealing with all the industrial waste from further up the Waimak. MMMMMMMM

This can all be solved by an upgrade of the Bromley plant - and if the council think that's too expensive.....their priorities are out of whack. As I told them in my submission already......

"I generally agree with the idea of a pipeline. As a kiteboarder I have given up any contact with the estuary due to bad health effects, (this too is a little exaggerated - it makes my nice new wetsuit pong) and I think the pipeline will help this. However, I am concerned that the treatment plant does not treat the water to a high enough standard to be discharged at sea. Further, it is my opinion that the primary concern of any council is with infrastructure, this is the number one (actually its all about number twos, but I left that little nugget of wisdom out) priority, and the managment of sewerage is key to defining us as a developed society. I find it appalling that the council could even consider spending money on projects such as daffodil displays and parking restrictions ahead of the issue of waste disposal. The UN's Human Development Index uses sanitation as one of the measurements of a developed country - not the presence or absence of daffodils or parking wardens! I have yet to see Medicines Sans Frontiers in the Sub Sahara feverishly installing parking meters."


So.......here's what to do (if you care)
Go to www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay/OceanOutfall/HaveYourSay.asp

and fill it in.

Remember - just because it's a submission, does not mean you have to get down on yours knees and submit!

(There could also be baked cheesecake in it)

Cheers,

Any thing to keep the waters CLEAN...

They have just recived another email from a kite surfer..

Kinawera wrote:
"However, I am concerned that the treatment plant does not treat the water to a high enough standard to be discharged at sea."

It is already discharged at sea, via the estuary mouth. I don't see how a pipeline could not be better. At present it all drifts out past Sumner and gets washed along all the way to the pier sometimes depending on current eddies behind the peninsula. I generally stay off the poo-pond these days, pity cause that's where the best wind is. The council are wankers, capitulating to every whimsical want and need of the Fendalton/Merivale set.... what surprises me is that there is not more lobbying from the Well to do Sumner folk, their beach stinks and they put up with it. But then again many of them do go and add to it by pointing their dogs bums at it each evening.

Come on you Christchurch boys, dont be such wimps.

A third eye growing out of the back of your head due to the crap might be useful for seeing who is coming up behind you