Variation will enable wetlands trial

Council are seeking public submissions on their application to amend the disinfection clause in its wastewater treatment plant consent.

The disinfection clause (Clause 4) required Council to install ultraviolet wastewater disinfection to its treatment process no later than 31 December 2014.

Deputy chief executive and engineering and works manager Peter Higgs says the variation sought is an operational change to enable a wetlands option to be further investigated as a viable alternative to disinfection.

“It includes two-year milestones for confirming, designing and building an alternative wastewater management system. If these are not met, the default position would be to install disinfection.”

“We believe discharging treated wastewater to a wetlands is financially and environmentally better – and more sustainable long-term – than the originally proposed ultraviolet disinfection.”

Mr Higgs said the effectiveness of ultraviolet disinfection and the likely $85 million cost was not what was anticipated; neither did it meet the expectations of the community.

“Disinfection would not meet the consent requirement to remove human wastewater from the bay by 2020. Further treatment and disposal options would still need to be progressed to meet consent requirements.

“Over the past few years, the Wastewater Technical Advisory Group – comprising of tangata whenua, scientists, community members and council staff– has been working hard towards various alternative use and disposal options for the city’s treated wastewater. It has come up with a wetlands option worth investigating, hence the request for further time.”

The group determined that a wetland complex is a cost-effective and sustainable wastewater treatment option that could be successfully delivered by 2020 and comply with consent conditions.

The estimated cost is $10m to $12m.

“If we don’t act, we could end up implementing the more expensive default condition of wastewater disinfection,” Mr Higgs said.

Mayor Meng Foon wishes to express his sincere thanks to Turanga Iwi and the Group for working with Council on a more natural and sustainable process of waste water treatment. “Mauriora ki te taiao, ka ora te tangata - look after the environment and the environment will look after us.”

On the group’s advice, the Wastewater Management Committee recommended Council endorse a variation to Clause 4.

“I hope our community will support these proposed changes, as Council voted unanimously for the review into a wetland system.” Says Mayor Foon.

Council has elected to notify the application to ensure the opportunity for public input.

Public submissions can be made from today until 4pm Wednesday 25 February. The application will be heard by a panel of commissioners.

ENDS

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