Members of the public stop at the inlet works to hear facts and figures about Whanganui's new wastewater treatment plant. Photo / Bevan Conley
Members of the public stop at the inlet works to hear facts and figures about Whanganui's new wastewater treatment plant. Photo / Bevan Conley
It was a Sunday like no other for the hundreds of residents who turned up to tour Whanganui's new wastewater treatment plant.
From 9am to 4pm the plant, located on Airport Rd, was open to the public to give ratepayers the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at Whanganui's near $40 million project.
"I didn't expect it to be this impressive, it looks good ... I just hope it works."
Waitai Whatarau, who moved to Whanganui a few months ago, said she had heard a lot of the talk and wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
"I know a lot of money has gone into the plant, I hope they don't get it wrong again. But all the guys have been really good at explaining things and it all seems very impressive," Ms Whatarau said.
People were lining up before 9am, a turnout that exceeded the Whanganui District Council's expectations.
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Council infrastructure general manager Mark Hughes said he had only expected a couple of hundred people.
"By noon there was at least 400 people who had been through and all but one of the responses have been positive."
Mr Hughes said the electrical, mechanical and hydroelectric testing were just about complete.
"By the end of the month the site will be handed back to the council, commissioning will be done throughout April, May and June and we will be fully functioning by July."
The plant had the capacity to cater for the population of Wellington, he said.
"That's because about 80 per cent of the wastewater will come from industrial, like Affco, Tasman Tanning and Land Meat, and only 20 per cent will be residential."
After 15 months of construction he was looking forward to the official opening at a date to be confirmed.
