Media Release
Thursday 22 May 2014

Rotorua council to proceed with TERAX waste plant

Rotorua District Council is to proceed with its TERAX project to construct a new high-tech plant for processing bio-solid sludge from the city’s wastewater treatment plant, using TERAX technology developed by scientists from crown research institute Scion.

At yesterday’s [21 May] meeting of the council’s Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee, the committee recommended council approve $3 million for the project’s professional services contract, which to date had only been partially approved.

The resolution follows an decision of the council earlier in the year to put the funding approval on hold while the business case and financial modelling was reviewed.

Council chief financial officer Dave Foster said the review work had now been undertaken by the council’s finance team, including re-evaluation of cost estimates for all options.

He said TERAX remained the most cost-effective option for achieving the council’s objectives around sustainable disposal of sludge produced by the wastewater treatment plant, and compliance with stringent new environmental protection requirements.

The new TERAX plant will efficiently treat and recycle the bio-solid waste stream from Rotorua’s wastewater treatment plant, a problem that councils have been grappling with across New Zealand and internationally.

The council has received a grant of $4.7 million for developing TERAX technology, of which $3.7 million is a contribution towards constructing the new demonstration plant. The plant is referred to as a “demonstration” facility as it will provide evidence that the new technology works effectively. It will allow TERAX technology to be demonstrated to interested parties, such as other councils, under normal operating conditions.

ENDS

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