Hamilton City Council asked for feedback on proposed changes to its Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw (the Bylaw). This consultation was held between 17 January – 17 March 2023.
The Bylaw, developed in 2016, aims to better protect the city’s wastewater network, prevent overflows and protect our important wastewater treatment process.
As part of the review, we asked for feedback from trade waste consent holders and tanker waste operators, as well as Regional Council and iwi, to ensure the Bylaw is fit for purpose and protects and respects our waterways.
The feedback identified a few minor issues which could be managed within the Bylaw as it is, or through other processes. As a result of the review, we proposed to only make minor changes, to ensure the Bylaw meets legislative changes that have occurred since 2016.
Council bylaws relating to management and provision of water services could be managed differently under the entity structure.
The minor changes included:
Council received 16 responses during the two month consultation period. One response was a duplication, and therefore removed, meaning that 15 responses were analysed.
Of the 15 responses, 13 came from individuals and two responses came from organisations, businesses or groups.
Of those who responded, 77% agreed to amend the current Bylaw with minor changes, 15% asked we retain the Bylaw with no changes, and 8% did not answer.
Five comments from respondents who agreed to amend the current Bylaw with minor changes felt the changes ‘made sense’ and reflected making the current Bylaw up to date while keeping the intended purpose.
Two respondents felt the Bylaw should highlight the significance of waterways to Maaori; these respondents encouraged amending the Bylaw to better reflect Council’s partnership of kaitiakitanga with Waikato-Tainui in protecting waterways.
One respondent felt changes to the Bylaw were necessary but more substantial changes were needed to the Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw.
At the Infrastructure and Transport Committee held on 29 May 2023, members recommended the revised Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw be adopted by Council, before 1 July 2023.
Further amendments to the bylaw were made as a result of submissions made by the public. These included:
Council is planning to review how mortuary waste is managed in our city. This review responds to concerns raised by Mana Whenua as part of the review of the Bylaw.
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
As part of the review of the Hamilton City Council Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw 2016 (the Bylaw), Hamilton City Council (Council) is seeking feedback on the proposal to continue the bylaw with minor changes:
This Statement of Proposal is made for the purposes of sections 83, 86 and 160(3)(b)(ii) of the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA), and the Health Act 1956.
What is the Trade Waste and Wastewater Bylaw?
Hamilton City Council collects, moves, treats and discharges the city's wastewater. This includes general wastewater from domestic premises, and wastewater generally used in a trade and industrial process (otherwise known as ‘trade waste’).
The mismanagement of the discharge of trade waste and wastewater can cause:
The 2016 Bylaw sets out what is and is not allowed into the city’s wastewater, gives clarity on everyone’s responsibilities in using the wastewater system, and provides clear direction to trade waste consent holders and tankered-waste operators on how they will need to manage any discharges to the system. The trade waste this Bylaw relates to is contained within the bylaw itself.
Why are we doing this?
The Bylaw was first adopted in 2016, as a requirement under the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) and Council is required to review it five years after adoption. This provides an opportunity for Council to check in with our community on how the Bylaw is working and consider feedback.
On 8 June 2021, Council decided a bylaw is still the most appropriate tool for addressing issues relating to the management of trade waste and wastewater in Hamilton, as required by section 155(1) of the LGA.
Council has been working through a review process which allows us to assess potential issues with the Bylaw and provide options on how to fix them. Potential issues have included:
The review has told us:
Have your say on the Bylaw
Before making any final decisions, we would like to hear from owners and operators of trade waste premises, or any member of the public. The proposed Bylaw can be viewed at the bottom of this page under Related heading.
Next steps
Council will collect and analyse all feedback and this will be presented at a Hamilton City Council Hearings and Engagement Committee meeting in 2023. At this meeting, anyone who submitted will be welcome to make a verbal submission in person to support their views.
The Council will then consider all the views and make a final decision.
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