New location for Akaroa Wastewater Treatment Plant

Christchurch City Council has approved the relocation of the Akaroa Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The decision to relocate the plant from its current site at Takapuneke Reserve was resolved yesterday during a Council meeting. The Council will now investigate possible sites in consultation with local Ōnuku Rūnanga.

Mayor Bob Parker says the decision to relocate the plant from Takapuneke Reserve is the result of indepth consultation with local Rūnanga towards a conservation plan for the reserve. The conservation plan, which is due to be presented to Council in 2012, will recognise the cultural significance and heritage value of the site.

“Over the past three years, the Council has supported a strong Community Working Party that has investigated all the issues and options of Akaroa Wastewater. The Working Party has recognised the cultural significance of the Takapuneke Reserve and recommended that the plant be relocated. I am very happy to announce that we can now progress with this relocation plan, as it will have both positive cultural and environmental implications for the area,” he says.

In addition to investigations regarding alternative sites for the treatment plant, Council staff are also looking at potential plant designs that provide both operational and environmental benefits. The new treatment plant will be capable of producing wastewater that achieves best quality wastewater standards, and that the design of the plant will enable the future beneficial re-use of treated wastewater for domestic, commercial and agricultural irrigation use.

The cost for the relocation and subsequent development of a new Akaroa Wastewater Treatment Plant is approximately $23.1M, the funding of which is part of the Council’s 2009-19 Long Term Plan. This figure may vary depending on the location of the new plant.
The outfall from a new plant will be to the middle of the harbour. The Council, Community Board and Akaroa Wastewater Working Party recognise that there are cultural concerns about the location of the outfall, and as such will be consulting with Ngāi Tahu on measures that address these concerns.