Waikato District Council to propose Raglan wastewater discharge solutions

After “many years’ work”, Waikato District Council is set to present “the best possible outcome” for how Raglan’s wastewater treatment and discharge will be managed.

According to a statement issued this week, the council will host a special presentation on November 19 at the Raglan Club to update the local community on the council’s proposal.

“How and where treated wastewater is discharged from the Raglan Wastewater Treatment Plant has been an area of discussion for some time, with mana whenua and community concerned about discharge of treated wastewater into Raglan Harbour,” the statement said.

Raglan Community Board deputy chairman Chris Rayner has been working with the council and contractor Watercare on the proposal for about six years.

“The proposal outlines the outcomes of many years’ work to find an alternative land-based discharge for the wastewater,” Rayner said.

“The process has been robust. It’s a presentation of the best possible outcome.”

Raglan Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently being upgraded.

Rayner said he hoped the community would participate in the presentation on November 19 and provide their feedback.

“The meeting is at Raglan Club so people can get dinner. We want to reach the community to the best of our ability.”

Waikato District Council waters manager Keith Martin said the proposal came from ongoing discussions with key groups and technical research and investigation.

Martin said the solutions proposed were “cost-effective”.

“The plant is currently being upgraded to a membrane bioreactor,” Martin said.

“That means that the wastewater discharged will be filtered highly effectively, which means the council has more options in terms of what can safely be done with the treated wastewater.”

Martin said community groups have favoured a land-based discharge on to a gully at Wainui Reserve with further technical assessments progressing from that option.

“Devices for groundwater monitoring will be installed on Wainui Reserve around November 11 and will be in place for three months.”

Long-time Raglan resident John Lawson says the council has been under pressure to find an alternative discharge solution for treated wastewater for years.

Long-time Raglan resident John Lawson said the council had been under pressure to find an alternative discharge solution for treated wastewater since sewage works were done about 20 years ago.

Currently, treated wastewater is discharged into the harbour.

While the water is treated, Lawson said, discharge did not flow out to sea but “hung around the coast” because of currents.

Lawson said he hoped many members of the community would attend the upcoming meeting.

“They’ve done quite well on the consultation. They’ve been updating us reasonably well,” Lawson said.

“The more people who get involved in making these decisions the better.”

The special presentation evening will be at 6pm on Tuesday, November 19, at the Raglan Club.

Council staff will also hold pop-up sessions in Raglan later in the summer, with dates to be confirmed.

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.