Raw sewage spills to end at holiday spots
A $31 million solution to the longrunning issue of raw sewage leaking into rivers at two of Taranaki’s top holiday spots is to be fast tracked following the purchase of a site for a wastewater treatment plant
The New Plymouth District Council has agreed to buy 41 hectares of land on Waiau Rd near Urenui and Onaero for $3.3m.
The land is for a treatment plant that will enable the seaside towns to stop using septic tanks, many of which leak human waste into waterways.
In a press release, council three waters manager Mark Hall said the land came on the market unexpectedly.
‘‘It is rare to have something of this size available in the right location so we acted quickly,’’ he said.
‘‘The $31m Urenui/Onaero wastewater project is in the budget and it’s pleasing that after much hard work, we can begin this important piece of mahi to get rid of pollution in this important awa, a couple of years earlier than scheduled.’’
A rāhui on swimming and gathering fish and shellfish has been in place on Urenui River, from Okoki Pa to the river mouth, since November 2020. The river runs through one of Taranaki’s most popular holiday spots, with dozens of permanent baches and a large campground near the beach.
Urenui is famous among children of many generations for the extensive mudflats that in the past have been a popular slipping and sliding spot at low tide.
The council said it had spent the last two years helping residents fix and maintain their septic tanks and working on wastewater issues at both the Onaero and Urenui campgrounds.
In its press release Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga chief executive Mitchell Ritai said it was great a site had been identified in an appropriate spot for the waste water treatment plant.
‘‘This allows the planning to get underway for reticulating Onaero and Urenui, which means we’ll be able to manage the current issues we’re experiencing with our awa,’’ he said.
The next step is talking further with mana whenua, locals and direct neighbours as part of the consenting process, though the council’s press release stated it was too early to say what the design features would include.
The council did not say when construction of the plant was scheduled to begin.