Mayor pipes up on laterals debate

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester is putting a stake in the ground, adamant the city council should take back responsibility for maintaining lateral pipes beyond homeowners’ property lines.

The issue has become a contentious one in Wellington where homeowners are expected to pay for all repairs to lateral pipes, which transport waste to the public main, regardless of where they fail.

In many other New Zealand cities and towns, the council pays for all damage that occurs beyond a homeowner’s property boundary.

There has been little movement on the issue since February last year, when Wellington City Council’s environment panel voted unanimously in favour of reclaiming liability for the pipes.

Initially, the proposal was going to be considered as part of the 2016-17 Annual Plan. But when estimates showed a potential cost to ratepayers of about $1 million a year, the plan was put on ice.

Because the proposal was now being considered as part of the 2018-2028 Long-Term Plan, an exact timeline on when a decision would be made was not known.

Lester said the pipes’ upkeep should be part of Wellington City Council’s remit.

‘‘I’ve agreed on that since 2010, since I came into council,’’ Lester said.

‘‘I think, personally, [lateral pipe maintenance] should be within the public capacity ... because [council is] better placed, we’ve got the knowledge, we’ve got the understanding, we’ve got the management,’’ he said.

‘‘I have advocated on behalf of community members who have had issues in the past. I voted and, in fact, led some of the work in the past, advocating for change.’’

Wellington City Council predicts that up to 200 lateral pipes across the city would need work each year.