Sewerage hook-up may cost locals $20,000 each | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Riversdale Terrace residents are waiting for more details about a British developer's decision to connect their pipes to a scheme that may cost them more than $20,000 each.
Andrew Scott has shown a ''willingness to join'' his 76-lot development to Riversdale's $5.8 million sewerage upgrade, according to the Masterton District Council.
Marty Dawes, the only person living on the development so far, was aware of the developer's thoughts but didn't know he was proceeding.
''I'm not sure what the development motives are ... We have obviously got to ask some questions before anyone will make any decisions, I suspect.''
Mr Dawes believed the developer had always wanted to join the Riversdale sewerage upgrade but he couldn't wait for the Masterton District Council so he built his own private sewerage system.
Mark Hall, chairman of the Riversdale Terrace Residents Society, said his group, which represents about 23 of the development's future home-owners, supported the developer but was awaiting further information.
''I'm not too sure what to expect but obviously some figures have been put out,'' he said.
The lot-owners would have a meeting about the plan within the next few months.
If the developer signs the Riversdale Terraces into the sewerage scheme the cost will be about $22,000 a resident _ $13,637 a lot-owner for hook-up and an extra $8000 to install a sewerage pump.
Ian Steer, Masterton District Council's special project manager, said the developer had likely changed his mind after realising the hassle of maintaining a separate sewerage scheme.
''It doesn't really make sense to have two sewerage schemes.''
He said if the 76 lots joined, the property brought many assets that would bring down the overall cost of the Riversdale sewerage upgrade.
The upgrade was planned in the early 2000s to replace septic tanks that had been contaminating Riversdale groundwater. Riversdale residents were each paying about $16,750.
The upgrade will finish in April and cost $80 million in design, land purchase, and construction. Developer Andrew Scott was unavailable to comment.