Coromandel lifts development ban

The Thames Coromandel District Council will put out a combined tender for $27 million worth of work developing wastewater treatment plants for Tairua and Pauanui as well as Whangamata and Whitianga.

Spokesman Peter Hazael said the council hoped by combining work into a single multi-stage tender it would attract the best price for the work. Tenders would open next month and the council expected work on the long-awaited Tairua and Pauanui wastewater treatment plant to be completed within 20 months.

The new plant would cater for up to 5400 new homes in the Tairua-Pauanui area, which has been subject to a development ban for the past five years.

The present sewerage system could not cope, particularly during the summer peaks when the population rises from about 3000 to 20,000.

Property prices have tripled in some cases since the subdivision ban was in place. While Tairua real estate agents say the moratorium has slowed business for the town, waterfront property prices have skyrocketed from $350,000 to $1.4 million and tradesmen remain busy.

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