Nature calls for sewage overhaul
Palmerston North is gearing up for the biggest city council project ever undertaken – new and improved management of its wastewater.
With an estimated budget of $128.8 million, the project dubbed ‘‘Nature Calls’’ has a deadline of June 2022 to put a proposal to Horizons Regional Council for resource consent for a new scheme.
The city council has just launched the public consultation phase of the project, providing information about wastewater and inviting residents to get involved.
Project manager Melaina Voss said the steering group was in the process of drawing up a longlist of options, from upgrading the current plant, moving to land- or coastal-based disposal, or a mixture of something in between.
The need and timetable for the review and investment have been prompted by Horizons’ findings that the city’s discharge was harming the Manawatu¯ River.
Under changes to conditions of its consent to discharge in November 2015, the city council will have to lodge a new consent application by June 2022.
That would mean a new treatment regime could be in place about six years earlier than its existing consent would have required without the variation.
‘‘The goalposts have shifted, but we can’t put things on hold. We have to steamroll ahead with this project,’’ Voss said.
The plan was to produce a shortlist by July next year and confirm the best option by the end of December 2020.
Voss said the project group was working closely with neighbouring councils with recent experience in planning and upgrading wastewater treatment.
And although Horizons ultimately held regulatory power, at this stage experts from both councils were working together to understand the issues and possible solutions.
‘‘The focus for the rest of the year and next year is to understand our river health better.
‘‘That includes what is happening with nutrient levels, micro-invertebrates, periphyton, nitrogen levels and fish surveys.’’
The council was planning to set up a public information day next month.