I refer to the letter of R Paterson(23/12/2011) about the ‘Debt Mountain', sadly for Tauranga Ratepayers the information provided is only part of what is on the horizon. The cycle of development and house construction resulting in large reductions in fees collected to pay debt have ‘dried up”, yet the debt remains to be paid, the single biggest is the Southern Pipeline, costing $166m+ and the Te Maunga plant upgrade another $160m+.
All of this for outdated technology and prehistoric sewerage treatment that were relics before any pen got to paper. The reasons are: -
1. Old technology – at least 20 years out of date
2. Continues with the oxidation pond/ocean discharge concept
3. Centralised sewerage processing (contrary to TCC's 'node” policy)
4. Incurs large debts based on ‘growth pays for Growth' a flawed concept that has predictably failed
5. Untreated sewerage traversing city presents unnecessary environmental risk
Decisions are deficient from two perspectives:
Archaic planning and supervision of projects by applying methods and concepts 20-30 years out of date. Now implemented are locking TCC for the next 50 years; and significant amount of debt incurred without a prudent means to repay it. This year will be looked back upon with significant anguish.

I. Stevenson, Tauranga.