Three years after its wastewater treatment plant failed and was shut down, the Whanganui District Council has finally given the green light for a replacement plant, estimated to cost $38 million.
Councillors made the decision yesterday, but a number of key issues still need to be resolved before work starts on a new facility at Airport Rd. They include sorting out how much domestic and trade waste users will pay and securing a resource consent for the plant's marine outfall off South Beach.
The new plant, designed by Cardno BTO, will cost an estimated $38 million with construction spread over three years. An initial $16 million will be spent in 2016-17 and the remaining $22.7 million in 2017-18.
Council officers estimate that when the plant is operational (2018-19) rates funding that year will need to be $11.9 million. How much that will mean to households and the city's industries is still to be finalised and discussions with the main trade waste users is ongoing.
The previous plant only started operating in 2007 and since it closed (2013) council has spent about $10 million on removing sludge from the existing ponds along with litigation (against the designers MWH), as well as getting a new plant designed and engaging various experts to advise on a new system.