Using Wastewater Upgrades to Empower Cultural and Ecological Visions

Auckland is New Zealand’s most populous region and it is continuing to grow rapidly. This growth is often in the rural urban boundary comprising of small communities in sensitive environmental settings. The provision of water and wastewater services in these growth areas is becoming increasingly complex and needs to be delivered in the context of the cultural, social and environmental circumstances. This paper presents how the development of wastewater solutions in these circumstances can be fundamentally linked to broader goals and visions within these communities and this can be the catalyst for further change. Two examples of this will be explored in detail:

1. In October 2017, a decision from independent commissioners for the Waikato Regional Council granted resource consent for the discharge of treated wastewater from the Pukekohe Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to the Lower Waikato River for a period of 35 years. Significantly, the discharge consent is the longest in duration (by 10 years) granted by the Waikato Regional Council for a discharge of municipal treated wastewater to the Waikato River. The legislative planning framework that governs the statutory process for discharges of treated wastewater to the Waikato River is dominated by the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 and the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River. These seek the protection and restoration of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River from its current degraded state. The proposed treatment solution, developed in collaboration with the mana whenua group Te Taniwha o Waikato will result in a projected improvement in the water quality of the receiving environment (Parker Lane Stream and the Waikato River) over the 35-year consent period.

2. Watercare has embarked on a replacement program for the existing WWTP’s at Waiuku, Clarks Beach and Kingseat, as well as another private WWTP at Kingseat, with a state-of-the-art new WWTP to be located at the existing Waiuku WWTP location. The treated wastewater is then returned to Clarks Beach which will be held in an enclosed tidal holding facility and then discharged into the pūahatanga o Te Manukau on the outgoing tide via an offshore outfall. The strength of an adaptive management regime was instrumental in achieving a long-term discharge permit. This was built off a comprehensive analysis of the options available and extensive consultation with local iwi. This resulted in the setting of direct objectives that included achieving a Best Practicable Option (BPO) solution.

This paper describes how the challenges of providing for long term growth in a catchment can be achieved whilst also contributing towards a demonstrable improvement in achieving the vision for a receiving environment. This has been developed in close collaboration with iwi and stakeholders.