Ōpōtiki District Council holds a resource consent issued by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to discharge treated wastewater from the Ōpōtiki Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on to land adjacent to the Waioeka Estuary.

Wastewater treatment plant resource consent application submitted

Ōpōtiki District Council has lodged an application with Bay of Plenty Regional Council for a new resource consent for the Ōpōtiki Wastewater Treatment Plant located at Snells Road.

Council’s current consent for discharge activities expires on 31 July 2025.

During the development and evaluation phase of council’s application, proposed changes to the Wastewater standards from Taumata Arowai (the Water Services Authority) were announced. The new standards are not due to be finalised until August 2025.

Ōpōtiki District Council, Service Delivery Group Manager Nathan Hughes said in response to this changing legislative landscape, council has lodged its resource consent application with regional council and requested it be placed on hold, in line with s.91A of the Resource Management Act.

“By doing this the Wastewater Treatment Plant can continue to operate and meet current compliance and legislative standards, while a decision is yet to be made on the new resource consent application, in-line with what the new standards may be,” Mr Hughes said.

Council’s application proposal outlines proposed staged upgrades to the existing facilities, addressing immediate operational challenges while planning for future community needs, including infrastructure upgrades to enhance treatment efficiency and optimise land disposal.

“In the 1990’s the Wastewater Treatment Plant location was selected for several reasons including its proximity to existing infrastructure, favourable soil characteristics, it is a low human activity area, downstream from the current network and overland flow during floods would not bring wastewater into the township.

“However, the infrastructure is under pressure with high amounts of water getting into the network during wet weather, algae and solids impacting drainage performance of the disposal field and a need to accommodate additional growth, like Hukutaia,” Mr Hughes said.

Council is developing a programme of work and plans to make improvements within the next couple of years to address the challenges Ōpōtiki faces now, while also planning how the infrastructure will serve the community 50 years on.

“Council also recognises the importance of hapū/iwi and community consultation and once legislative requirements are clear, will resume the engagement phase of our application process”. Mr Hughes said.

The date at which engagement will resume is currently unknown and all updates regarding this consent application and wastewater project will be added to the Wastewater Treatment Plant project page on Council’s engagement website Connect | Hono Mai.

For the purpose of discharging secondary treated sewage via soakage trenches to land adjacent to the Waioeka Estuary.
Granted: 2005
Expires: 2025

The consent expires in 2025 and council is seeking a new consent with new conditions. Alongside this process council will also consider upgrade and development options to its current wastewater discharge scheme.

Our wastewater treatment facilities have served the Ōpōtiki community well, however the current setup is under a lot of pressure. It will not be up to the task of serving our communities future needs in its current state.

Council wants to make improvements within the next couple of years to address the challenges we face now, while also planning how the infrastructure will serve us 50 years on and provide better outcomes for our community and the environment.

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  • Planning for the future

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  • Wastewater Treatment Plant

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    Treatment process 

  • Have your say

    Help us work through our future planning options by answering these questions and giving your feedback.

    Kōrero mai 

Consenting

In the 1990’s community consultation determined that direct discharge of wastewater (treated or not) to water (ocean outfall or river) to be an unacceptable option and that land disposal was preferred.

Accordingly, our wastewater treatment scheme discharges to land which is generally considered a more beneficial way to discharge effluent, both from a cultural and environmental perspective.

Our current discharge scheme includes:

  • The discharge of treated wastewater from oxidation ponds to the sand dunes;
  • The discharge of odour from oxidation ponds.

Why is the WWTP in this location?

The current location of the Wastewater Treatment Plant was selected because:

  • Of its proximity to existing infrastructure/setup.
  • It has favorable soil characteristics, ideal for absorbing treated water.
  • There is no housing making it a low human activity area.
  • It is downstream of the current network which aids the flow and function of the system.
  • It is far from existing potable water supply sources.
  • The flow effects during a flood event, would not bring wastewater into the township.

What will be assessed?

Within the consent process, and incorporating planning for future growth there are factors which will need to be assessed including:

  • Treated effluent quality requirements, that are environmentally, socially, culturally and economically acceptable for the receiving environment;
  • Land area constraints for any upgrading or upsizing of ponds and treatment infrastructure on the current site;
  • Amenity expectations and requirements relating to wastewater treatment infrastructure at the current location;
  • Hydraulic capacity loading limitations of the current receiving environment;
  • Natural hazard risks; and
  • Environmental, social and cultural acceptability of discharging to the current receiving environment.

Should it be found that the current discharge arrangement is not desirable, then alternative options, methods or locations for any part of that infrastructure may need to be considered.

This won't necessarily mean the existing site should be abandoned, but we would explore the relative advantages and disadvantages of other sites compared to improvements to the existing.