We own and operate the Ōakura Wastewater Treatment Plant on Wharua Road.
Wastewater treatment plants take your wastewater from bathrooms, kitchens and laundries etc. and treat it before putting it back into the environment.
The Ōakura Wastewater Treatment Plant has a resource consent that allows us to release treated wastewater onto land.
This consent is due to expire, and a new consent application is required to be lodged with Northland Regional Council before 30 March 2025 for the wastewater treatment plant to continue to operate.
Upgrades to Ōakura
The existing Ōakura Wastewater Treatment Plant consists of a mechanical treatment plant and disposal via dripper irrigation onto a large bush and forestry block west of the plant.
Although the wastewater treatment plant works well, improvements are needed to better accommodate the increase in population during the peak summer months.
Upgrades will also be required to meet predicted future population growth:
- upgrades to the mechanical plant to enhance treatment performance
- upgrades to instrumentation to improve remote monitoring of the plant and on-site generator for periods where power outages may be an issue
- addition of a buffer tank to balance peak summer and future flows through the plant.
These upgrades will allow for the wastewater treatment plant to treat wastewater more efficiently during the peak summer months and when the population of the Ōakura township increases over time.
Work we have ahead of us
We are currently doing technical environmental studies and will lodge the consent application in late February 2025. We have been working closely with mana whenua partners and key stakeholders to develop the consent application.
Once approved, we will begin work on upgrading the Ōakura Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Give us your feedback
We are keen to share what we have prepared so far, hear feedback and understand any potential concerns from property owners close to the treatment plant and disposal sites, and the wider community.
Please send us your feedback by 5:00pm on Friday 14 March 2025.
Online feedback form