I am glad to see that Councillor Mike Baker (Weekend Sun, 30 July) appears to be as concerned as I am about the financial impact of the Southern Pipeline. I can assure Cr. Baker that the Southern Pipeline does have the potential to increase citizens rates by $1,000 a year. Developers don't exist in the current economic climate other than at The Lakes and they would not be pleased with further costs loaded onto the already excessive impact development fees or over the top building consent fees of $20,000 each.

Although it is an option, nothing was said about using Waikareao Estuary or Kopurererua Stream, as there are the Wairoa River or ground infusion options which with current technology, means the projected BOD level of 5 or less is very low and far, far better than the water currently in the streams, estuaries or rivers anyway.

An RMA Consent for Tauriko should have been applied for at the time of the Southern Pipeline Hearings as the third option when the Foreshore and Devonport Road options were considered. This is an inexcusable oversight by Council, if an RMA Consent is now the main obstacle.

Incidentally, I understand Crs. Baker, Brownless and David Stewart recently had a meeting with one Graham Clarke, who is well versed in the Southern Pipeline project and the associated traffic issues in City areas like Devonport Road and 15th Avenue. In Mr. Clarke's view, not one of them grasped the enormity or impact of the project on residential, business properties or on motorists. Council leaves itself open under the provisions of S.63 Public Works Act to the prospect of paying compensation for injurious affection where land is not taken.

Apparently Cr. Baker also questioned Graham Clarke as to where he got the figure of $255 million for the Southern Pipeline from and was referred to URS Report 83, Diagram 17. It looks like an indication Cr. Baker hadn't read the prepared reports or doesn't understand them. Wonderful! In my view, it is essential that the Southern Pipeline be left for the newly elected Council in October to deal with and if that Council decides to proceed with this destructive, financial blunder without a further review, so be it!

Rob Paterson, Matapihi.