Innovative wastewater treatment design and construction: Gisborne wastewater treatment plant

An innovative wastewater treatment plant has been designed and constructed for Gisborne. Innovation started in the planning stage when an ambitiously different resource consent was sought. In 2002 a review group was set up to look at appropriate solutions to Gisborne’s wastewater treatment problems. The group was responsible for making some significant consensus decisions including selecting the biological trickling filter (BTF) process, choosing a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) site, and shepherding the agreed wastewater scheme concept through a successful consenting and designation process. The project was completed on-time – in spite of unexpected hurdles along the three year journey – and under the agreed budget of $40m proving that innovation and collaboration impacts directly on the financial outturn of design/construction projects.