A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Opinion
The second stage of wastewater treatment for Gisborne City is now estimated to cost $34.8 million, $1.3m more than a revised budget from six months ago. The council also decided this week to buy the land alongside the existing treatment plant in Banks Street, which its holding company bought forthe additional treatment facility in December 2018 for $1.9m.
Originally costed at $24.4m based on a 2016 design, in May this year councillors were confronted with news that the project budget had to increase by at least $9m — with no guarantees the new estimate of $33.5m would be enough. After a two-hour debate, with councillors grilling staff over reasons for the cost blowout, they unanimously agreed to incorporate the larger budget in the council’s 2021-31 Long-Term Plan.
An update report published prior to GDC’s operations committee meeting yesterday said consultant engineering firm Beca had now completed detailed design, and councillors were advised at a public-excluded meeting in September that the cost estimate was now $34.8m.
The chief executive was delegated authority “to proceed with the contract works based on the latest estimate, being the total project cost”. Two registrations for interest had since gone to market, as two different contracts will potentially be let — one for ground improvements and one for the rest of the work. Consenting was under way.
A work programme in the update report shows site works starting in March 2021, with a proposed completion and commissioning time frame of February-May 2022.
The council included this second stage of wastewater treatment in its 2018-2028 Long Term Plan, then in February last year — based on recommendations from the Wastewater Management Committee and further information from staff — agreed to fast-track the project, as the proposed timeline was not compliant with its consent.
The new facility will clarify (take out solids) and UV-treat wastewater. The plan is for construction of a wastewater wetland to follow “once an affordable, sustainable and viable use for the treated wastewater is identitifed”.
The update report also said applications for funding to advance alternative use and disposal (AUD), and wetland construction, had been unsuccessful to date. A project plan for AUD would be presented on December 3. The council was also looking at options to dispose of the biosolids produced as part of the stage-two upgrade.
