New wastewater treatment plant confirmation

Published on 08 August 2016

8 August 2016

The Whanganui District Council will hold an extraordinary meeting tomorrow (August 9) to confirm whether to commence construction of the new wastewater treatment plant approved by the Council in March this year, Chief Executive Kym Fell said today.

“If the Council reconfirms its previous decision tomorrow, the long awaited new wastewater treatment plant will soon become a reality and be in operation by December 2018, ending the discharge of untreated waste directly into the sea and finally putting behind us the difficulties forced on the community by the failed wastewater treatment plant,” Mr Fell said.

“The design will meet the expectations of Council and the community of being affordable, sustainable and reliable and will serve the current and future needs of the city for both residents and trade users alike.

“While further details need to be worked through, if reconfirmed, work on the new plant will commence shortly.”

Mr Fell said that he also reported to Council today that discussions initiated by major trade waste users Affco, Land Meats and Open Country Dairy for a separate treatment scheme had not borne fruit, despite Council demonstrating significant flexibility in negotiations.

The meeting will be open to the public. It will be held at 4.00pm on Tuesday, August 9, in the Council Chamber.