A Southern Pipeline peer review by Beca in July 2008 wasn't complimentary. It seemed to question the excessive contingency figures and lack of time to report.
No doubt TCC Councillors read the BECA report and analysed it. From what I could see, the comparative figures between the Southern Pipeline and a stand-alone plant at Tauriko seemed flawed and inaccurate to the detriment of any Tauriko option.
The late Graham H Clarke made an in-depth study and investigation into the suitability of a Wanaka type scheme. Correspondence, meetings and submissions to Council were all to no avail, TCC would not even allow the Wanaka contractors to undertake investigations and costings.
Little wonder TCC spindoctoring costs now approach $2 million per annum.
Surely the Tauriko option was the best choice, on a cost basis plus the natural disaster risk factor as it is better to spread installations. There was also the prospect of a design and build package like Wanaka's Project Pure with a treatment plant costing $9.5 million vs. Tauranga mega-millions warranted due consideration.
Quality would be similar, capacity much the same so what's going on here? The ground stability issues at Tauriko are no worse than Te Maunga and TCC can't deliver all the sewage to Te Maunga, it simply won't cope with it.
Transporting sewage huge distances is ridiculous and the Te Maunga facility still has to accommodate all the future Papamoa growth.

R Paterson, Matapihi.