Whareroa water treatment plant upgrade

Introduction

We need to upgrade water treatment facilities at Whareroa Esplanade to meet national drinking standards. We would like your views on this going ahead, including which of two locations you might prefer the new structures to be built.

This upgrade requires council to:

Improve treatment and monitoring of water for the Whareroa community
Secure future water source and avoid contamination risk
Improve Health and Safety requirements for the protection of the public
Change from chlorine gas to hypochlorite treatment system

Provision of more buildings and structures within the reserves must be carefully assessed. This development will involve changing the purpose of a specific portion of the reserve from Local Purpose Reserve (Esplanade) to Local Purpose Reserve (Utility).

Council has assessed the existing water treatment infrastructure and suitable land within Whareroa. Currently there is a small building, chlorine contact tank, pump station, and two underground water bores. As the existing infrastructure is on the Whareroa Esplanade Reserve, expanding this system at this location is the most affordable solution for the community.

Changing from chlorine gas to hypochlorite treatment system will reduce the size of the treatment plant and improve safety for the public.

Development of the site will also subject to Taupō District Council being granted the required resource and building consents. The resource consent may not involve further consultation.

What development is being proposed?

To improve Whareroa’s water supply the following development is needed to meet the New Zealand water drinking standards.

An extension to the existing building on site- the exterior of this building will match the current buildings on site or,
A new building onsite with a coloured steel flat panel exterior
New chlorine contact tanks
Converting the existing chlorine contact tank into a pump tank
Enclosing the storage tanks and buildings within a standard timber safety fence
Replacing the two existing underground water bores with above ground water bores
Removal of some of the existing kowhai trees and vegetation
Mitigating the effect of these new structures with additional planting and trees

There are two locations on the Esplanade reserve where we could do this work. The first is at the existing treatment plant buildings, and the second involves new structures closer to the lakefront.

Location option 1

Requires 470m2 changed to Local Purpose Reserve (Utility). The exterior cladding of the building would match the existing building of board and batten.

Location option 2

Requires 482m2 changed to Local Purpose Reserve (Utility). The building cladding would be a coloured steel flat panel.

Please note the images shown above are representative only and the final design may differ.

Either location would have a 1.4m timber safety fence. An example of the fencing style that may be used is shown below. This is a water bore at Whakamaru.

What needs to change?

The current South Western Bay Settlements Reserve Management Plan allows for further utilities being placed underground within the reserve. This development will create structures above ground which triggers changes to the purpose of the reserve in order for this development to progress.

This development will involve changing the purpose of a specific portion of the reserve from Local Purpose Reserve (Esplanade) to Local Purpose Reserve (Utility).

Both locations options require two spaces - the main area will include the tanks and building while the secondary area encloses the two water bores.

Location 1 - 470m2 needs to be changed to Local Purpose Reserve (Utility) under the Reserves Act.
Location 2 - 482m2 needs to be changed to Local Purpose Reserve (Utility) under the Reserves Act.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Why we want you to have your say?

As the current South Western Bay Settlements Reserves Management Plan does not allow for the above ground development of utilities, we want to hear your thoughts on the proposed changes of purpose of a portion of the reserve and your preferred location of the facilities.

The consultation process for the changing the purpose of a specific portion of the Whareroa Esplanade Reserve looks like this:

Preparation of draft plans and perspective drawings and approval in principle by council, subject to the outcomes of public consultation. This step has already been completed.
Public notice that the draft is available for inspection and calling for submissions (public hearings are not required for this change in purpose process.) This is the stage we are at now.
A council decision to approve (or not) the change the legal purpose for part of Whareroa Esplanade Reserve to progress the water treatment development.
A council decision to approve (or not) the location of the proposed water treatment development.

Community drop-in session

Do you want to find out more about the proposed development and location options, have a question you would like to ask us or want to provide feedback? Pop along to our community drop-in session!

Community drop-in session
Date and time: Saturday 10 September, 11am to 12 noon
Location: Whareroa Esplanade Reserve

Submissions

Submissions closed on Sunday 9 October 2022.

Thank you for all of the submissions received.

What happens with your feedback?

Council will consider all submissions. Following deliberations there will be a final decision made on whether to approve the change of purpose for a portion of Whareroa Esplanade Reserve and which location will be used if this proposal is to be developed. We will let you know the outcome.

Please note: all submissions will be made available to the public on the council website in accordance with our Privacy Statement.