Harold Williams' outfall pipe part of new plant

The architect of Gisborne’s innovative 1960s wastewater system gained a hint of the future this week during a visit to the city’s new wastewater treatment plant site.

Former city engineer Harold Williams, who designed the submarine outfall system still in use today, had a glint in his eye as he surveyed the bustling physical works now under way at Banks Street. His system, the final part of which was launched in December 1964, was light years ahead of anything that preceded it. The 1.8km submarine outfall pipe he designed will remain part of the new system but wastewater will first be treated in a biological trickling filter plant to be built on the Banks Street site.

Gisborne District Council engineering and environmental staff hosted Mr Williams and his former deputy engineer Ernie Sinton to the site.

Engineering and works manager Peter Higgs said it was an historic occasion, with the developers and guardians of Gisborne’s former system rubbing shoulders with the new scheme’s guardians and engineers. 

Peter Higgs and Harold Williams

“It was like kaitiakitanga in action with the former guardians handing over to today’s guardians or kaitiaki. We are the ones looking after their baby now.

“I have met Mr Williams on several occasions as fellow engineers discussing our city’s wastewater. He was a leading light in wastewater engineering and deserves respect. I thought he and Mr Sinton would like to see it for themselves, and they certainly did. They were quite chuffed and we plan to take them again to watch the project as it progresses.”

Mr Higgs said it was great to see the pair still demonstrating their engineering knowledge, studying the detailed drawings and asking pertinent questions about the construction methods.