City wastewater treatment plant

The upgrade of Gisborne city’s wastewater system is under way.

The first sod was turned on council’s Banks Street site in late November after which successful tenderer HEB Construction began shifting its resources to the site.

Over the next 12 months, at a cost of $21m, the award-winning civil engineering company will construct a new wastewater treatment plant at Banks Street and an associated industrial separation scheme.  A separate contract of $1.1m was let to Downer EDI Works for the construction of the western industrial pipeline.

The $39.5m total cost of the upgrade includes land, UV disinfection, equipment including the media for the biological trickling filter, and consultancy fees.

By the end of December 2010, the city’s wastewater will be treated to a far higher standard than currently.  Wastewater will be processed through a new biological trickling filter system before being discharged through the existing 1.8km outfall to the sea.

The cost of the project is now less than half the cost of the original, fully consented $84m scheme proposed at Aerodrome Road.

The performance of the treatment plant will be monitored and modifications made to upgrade if necessary.