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Councillors today approved an amended irrigation-to-land discharge option for the Akaroa and Duvauchelle wastewater scheme.

The amendments aim to help reduce the projected capital cost of the previously agreed 2020 scheme from around $175 million to $150 million.

Key changes include:

  • Reducing the planned irrigation areas in Robinsons Bay and Hammond Point to approximately 28 hectares
  • Increasing irrigation rates in those areas
  • 16,000m ³ of irrigation storage, a reduction from 24,000m ³
  • Moving the wastewater treatment plant to a site with lower geotechnical costs
  • A smaller 1000 m² wetland for excess treated wastewater to flow through before being discharged into Akaroa Harbour
  • Removing irrigation from the Duvauchelle Recreation Reserve

The current project budget in the Long Term Plan 2024-2034 is $98 million, with any additional cost to be incorporated in the 2027-2037 Long Term Plan.

Finance and Performance Committee Chairperson Sam MacDonald says the Council has taken its obligations seriously to a provide high quality and environmentally sustainable wastewater scheme for Akaroa and Duvauchelle.

“Today’s decision gives certainty to the Akaroa and Duvauchelle wastewater project. The intention of the amended irrigation-to-land option is to achieve substantial cost savings and minimises discharges of treated wastewater to the harbour. I’m pleased that feedback from local residents was able to be included in today’s decision.”

Councillors considered four land‑irrigation options that varied in irrigation area, storage capacity and treatment plant location, as well as an alternative option to discharge treated wastewater to the mid‑harbour via a 2.7‑kilometre pipeline.

Staff have been asked to report back in July with more detailed savings estimates associated with the approved option, along with options for accelerating the consenting process.

The Council has until 2030 before the current resource consent extension for the harbour outfall pipe expires.