Council issues reminder on septic system responsibilities

Property owners in the Mahurangi area are being urged to send proof to Auckland Council that their onsite wastewater system is in good working order or risk a fine.

As part of Auckland Council’s Safe Septic programme, funded by the water quality targeted rate, council sends letters to about 1000 property owners every month requesting the information.

Healthy Waters senior specialist Elizabeth Johnson says this is being rolled out across the whole Auckland region to identify and fix systems that are not working well. There are around 45,000 onsite wastewater systems in Auckland.

“Although we don’t have exact numbers for the Mahurangi area, anyone who appears in our system as being overdue for a service will be contacted,” Johnson says. “Property owners are encouraged to proactively send their records to us whenever they get a service.

“A faulty septic system creates health risks for people and the environment.”

Property owners are required by the Auckland Unitary Plan to get regular servicing done by a professional and provide those records to council. Some service companies use a digital form which is sent directly to council on the property owner’s behalf.

An advanced system with aeration, pumps, dripper lines and so on needs to be serviced every six months. A basic septic tank system needs to be serviced every three years.

For a service to be accepted, council needs proof that all the parts have been checked and are in good working order.

“If there are problems we need to know they are being resolved and this includes the disposal field. An invoice or similar for a pump-out of the tank is not sufficient.

“We have done significant work previously to attempt to make property owners aware of their requirements, including sending direct mailouts in 2019, offering subsidised servicing for Rodney residents during 2020/21 and having staff at markets around Rodney in 2021.”

For more information on the requirements, visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/septictanks

Former Watercare CEO joins AT board

Ex-Watercare chief executive Raveen

Jaduram has returned to the Auckland Council fold as one of two new directors of Auckland Transport (AT).

Jaduram resigned from Watercare in 2020 as the Auckland region was dealing with its worst drought in decades. At the time, he was council’s highest paid executive, with a salary of $775,000.

Jaduram has worked extensively in the water industry and is currently on the boards of the NZ Infrastructure Commission, Hynds Limited and the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australasia.

The second new AT director is Henare

Clarke, who has worked in roading and rail construction, maintenance and infrastructure management for more than 40 years, including roles with Higgins, KiwiRail and Downer.

Clarke has also held board roles on the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery Alliance after the Kaikoura earthquake, as well as several not-for-profit organisations.

Selection panel chair Councillor Chris Fletcher said the appointments brought “commercial nous, a customer-first ethos, and first-hand understanding of the delivery and management of our transport assets”.