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Permit extension approved ‘without oversight’: TVOM


NES Director
Published date: 6-Dec-2022

National Environmental Services (NES) director Halatoa Fua confirmed to Cook Islands News that the Rarotonga Environment Authority (REA) has approved a three-month permit extension for the Water Treatment Plan Onsite Discharge project at the 10 Te Mato Vai drinking-water treatment facilities.

The permit conditions remain unchanged. The permit authorises the dosing of coagulant, the short-term containment of sludge in onsite ponds, and the release of chemically-treated water (supernatant) into streams.

“This will allow NES to gather all pertinent information, data and analysis and obtain technical advice on the environmental impacts to provide proper due diligence and advice to the REA,” Fua said.

Te Vai Ora Maori (TVOM) technical director Andy Kirkwood is disappointed with the announcement.

“We have sought clarification from NES regarding the extension. Environment are required to ‘prevent, control and correct the pollution of air, water, and land’. Granting a three-month permit extension does not seek to correct the offending behaviour of the water authority,” Kirkwood said.

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