The issue of Ongare Point's septic tanks will take another year while time is taken to allow the financial wheels of two involved councils to mesh.

Both the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council are donating about $600,000 to the scheme to reticulate 58 properties.

The district council was going to set its money aside this year the 2016/17 financial year, while the regional council approved a $618,000 subsidy through its long term plan process for a wastewater scheme at Ongare Point in the 2017/2018 financial year.

District council staff requested the delay at the council Policy and Strategy Committee this week.

The council has been working on an alternatives to Ongare Point's septic tanks for 10 years, and staff say they need another year to get everything ready for the resource consent applications and to buy any land required.

There is also more communicating required with the 58 property owners, who while supporting the proposed septic tank pumping system are objecting to the council capping its contribution at $8,500 per property, says the staff report to the committee.

Staff say they will meet with land owners and produce a more detailed design and cost assessment so land owners can be more assured about the financial implications. Landowners are expected to pay a contribution towards on-site costs.

In total $1,707,001 has been allocated in the next financial year towards a wastewater scheme at Ongare Point, with the balance above the Internal Loan Advance of $600,011 coming from subsidies and grants.

Based on the to-do list of finalizing the design for reticulation and treatment plant, buying land for the new wastewater treatment plant – plus applying for and obtaining a resource consent for new wastewater treatment plant discharge and undergoing archaeological authority and iwi consultation council staff think it will take more than a year.

Re-budgeting the funding for the Ongare Point scheme was consulted on through the Annual Plan. Of the 24 responses received on this topic; 19 supported Councils proposal to shift the budget to the 17/18 Financial Year, and five did not.