Sewerage Treatment

The wastewater system carries liquid wastes from households, businesses and community facilities. It treats and disposes the effluent to minimise the risk to the environment and public heath.

Sewerage Treatment contributes by

• Ensuring wastewater systems support and promote safe and healthy conditions and
• Sewerage treatment does not adversely effect the environment.

– in action – 

East Coast Wastewater

What we said we would do in 2013/14

Work to commence for the East Coast Scheme which services the Mangonui/Cable Bay/Coopers Beach and Taipa areas.

What we did in 2013/14

Renewal of the resource consent for discharge from the treatment plant is in progress. A number of options have been considered as a way of reducing discharge to water together with an ecological study on the existing receiving environment to assist with progressing the consenting process.

What we plan to do in 2014/15

Continue to progress resource consent renewal and planning for treatment plant upgrade if required.

Bay of Islands Wastewater Treatment Scheme

What we said we would do in 2013/14

Council to complete an intensive consultation with ratepayers in July 2013.

What we did in 2013/14

The response to the campaign titled “Let’s Talk Crap” drew more than 600 responses from the community. The campaign considered three options which were: 1) Ratepayers retaining personal responsibility for owning and managing sewage treatment onsite. 2) Council managing onsite treatment systems. 3) The “flush and forget” option which supported reticulating specific suburbs. Taking into account the Auditor General’s report on Kaipara and its Mangawhai project, Council resolved to adopt a staged approach to ensure affordability to ratepayers, and to separately address compliance issues at the Paihia wastewater plant.

What we plan to do in 2014/15

Progress works to upgrade the Paihia wastewater treatment plant to meet new resource consent standards. Carry out a more detailed public consultation on proposals for the Kerikeri wastewater scheme to include submissions under the LTP process.

– development so far – 

Sewer Inflow And Infiltration Studies

What we said  we would do in 2013/14

Prioritise and commence district wide inflow and infiltration assessment works.

What we did in 2013/14

Carried out a high level review which lead to prioritisation of the Kaitaia wastewater scheme. Hydraulic modelling to establish scale and potential cost impact.

Plan established to progress detailed investigations and identify solutions in 2014/15 for remediation program as part of the LTP.

What we plan to do in 2014/15

Continue district wide inflow and infiltration assessment works and implement remedial works. Focus on the Kaitaia sewerage network as a priority to identify solutions and budgets for approval under the LTP.

Kaikohe STP Upgrade

What we said  we would do in 2013/14

Commence the Kaikohe Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) upgrade.

What we did in 2013/14

Reviewed extent of current compliance issues and held discussions with Northland Regional Council regarding potential for resource consent modification. Agreed to undertake environmental assessment and submit proposals for a do nothing recommendation. Assessments commenced.

What we plan to do in 2014/15

Complete the Kaikohe Treatment Plant upgrade to meet the resource consent. Final outcomes will reflect environmental assessment study and review of compliance standards with regional council.

Sludge Management Project

What we said  we would do in 2013/14

Creation of sludge drying facility at Kaitaia Sewerage Treatment Pond.

What we did in 2013/14

Sludge survey on all pond systems completed. Tender preparation for sludge removal at Kaitaia STP in progress. Consultant engaged to carry out bund design for Kaitaia sludge storage in progress. Discussion entered with external sludge recycling operator on potential options for waste material.

What we plan to do in 2014/15

Complete sludge removal from ponds at Kaitaia, Kaikohe and Kawakawa

– what we have achieved in 2013/14 –  

• Council installed a new low pressure sewer system in Opua and connected this to the Paihia scheme. Failing septic systems in this area were causing pollution in the Bay of Islands. During 2012/13 the contract was tendered, awarded, and construction has been completed.
• Awanui had an ageing effluent disposal scheme with failing septic tanks, leaking infrastructure, prone to flooding, and a deteriorating treatment plant. The proposed solution was to replace it with a low pressure system and transfer effluent to the Kaitaia sewerage treatment plant. A contract was tendered and awarded in 2012/13 with construction completed during 2013/14.

– where are we now? – 

• The resource consenting process for East Coast did not progress as speedily as expected, therefore delaying a decision on any capital upgrade works.
• The need to ensure an affordable solution for the proposed Bay of Islands wastewater scheme has been a challenge leading to review of scoping and options, while attempting to retain government subsidy.
• The sewer infiltration and inflow high level study has identified significant issues in the Kaitaia network and will pose a challenge in achieving an affordable solution.

¹ Please refer to the Sewerage Treatment section of the Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2012/13 and the Annual Plans 2013/14 and 2014/15 for further information on priorities