Media Release

2 November 2012

HBRC raises concerns over CHB Wastewater proposal

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has raised significant concerns about the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council’s sewerage system upgrade.

CHB District Council has opted for a $6 million floating wetlands proposal to upgrade the Waipukurau and Waipawa wastewater treatment plants. The council must satisfy HBRC that the design of the proposal will deliver the required standards by the deadline of 2014. Last month CHB District Council provided HBRC with a report detailing the proposed upgrade.

HBRC has had the proposal reviewed by independent qualified experts, who have highlighted a significant number of outstanding matters that CHB District Council must address, including the need for a management plan for the floating wetlands and a plan detailing how sludge produced at both sites will be managed.

HBRC Group Manager Resource Management Iain Maxwell has written to CHB District Council highlighting the concerns and urging the council provide details of how they intend to address them.

He has told the CHB District Council if HBRC is not satisfied with the proposal then additional conditions requiring a sludge management plan will be incorporated into the resource consent through a review in September next year.

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