Council Puts Project On Hold to Take Holistic Approach to Otane Wastewater

Thursday 20 September 2018

The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council at its Council meeting on 20 September have resolved to put on hold the implementation of the Otane Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, until a solution has been found that provides long term security of the environmental outcomes that the community and Council are seeking to achieve.

The decision to delay the implementation of the Otane Wastewater Treatment Plant project implementation, provides the Central Hawke’s Bay Community with the opportunity to holistically consider wastewater treatment investment options and solutions that are sustainable and affordable to the Central Hawke’s Bay Community long-term.

While the delay is subject to Council receiving approval from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council an extension of its resource consent application, it is anticipated that the Regional Council will look favourably on the request to extend the application.  Contingency plans are in place in the event that the consent application extension is not granted.

The delay is possible with Council not experiencing the challenges with the Otane Plant of the extent or scale of the Waipukurau or Waipawa plants.

While the Otane Wastewater Plant work is delayed, work is very much underway to deliver a long-term solution to identify wastewater treatment solutions for Central Hawke’s Bay.

“Delaying the decision is a sensible response to ensure that Council makes the very best investment decisions for the future of its Wastewater Treatments Plants”, say Chief Executive Monique Davidson.   “By June 2019, it is anticipated that Council has identified a strategic approach to address the treatment of Central Hawke’s Bay wastewater long-term, including at Otane”.

“We are not prepared to invest in band aid solutions for this Community, we need confidence when we invest we are making a long term sustainable solution that meets the test of durable infrastructure for best environmental outcomes”, says Mrs Davidson.

The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is working proactively to address challenges both in the short and longer term of its Wastewater plants.  Three waters, including Wastewater is a significant focus for the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, as noted in the 2018 Long Term Plan and in #thebigwaterstory.  It is one of the highest priority areas of focus for Council.   

A local Wastewater Reference Group has also been developed, with Council and the community collectively taking a proactive, cathedral thinking approach on future investment to ensure issues are addressed in a sustainable and affordable way for the Central Hawke’s Bay Community. 

The Community will have further opportunity to be involved in considering options for the wastewater solutions, including Otane.

17 July 2020

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