Christchurch wastewater plant smell: How far you need to go to escape it

A nasty odour has infiltrated one of New Zealand’s biggest cities, prompting the Herald to determine how far residents would need to travel to escape it.

The stench comes from the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bromley, long a problem for nearby eastern suburbs.

But in recent days the smell has intensified and spread much further than its usual footprint.

The odour was detected across central suburbs including Riccarton and as far west as Hornby.

Residents also reported smelling it in Hoon Hay, about 10km from the plant, and even as far north as Waikuku, roughly 30km away.

It was not until reaching the outskirts of Halswell, around 16km west from the treatment plant, that the smell noticeably eased.

For residents living close to the Bromley plant, however, the stench has become an unfortunate norm.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said it had become part of daily life.

“I guess it just always smells,” they said.

Another said the odour was especially noticeable after spending time away from Christchurch.

“I was away for a bit, and since I’ve come back, I’ve noticed it a lot more,” they said, describing the smell as something that tends to “linger” over the area.

Many locals have also expressed their anger on social media.

“Sad days still battling this foul s*** smell,” one person wrote.

“Sort the s*** out. I want my summer,” said another.

Earlier, Environment Canterbury confirmed it had already received 210 complaints, primarily from east Christchurch residents reporting a strong sewage odour.

Linwood community board member Jackie Simons said the situation was difficult for both residents and the council, acknowledging the widespread impact.

“Over the last few days, we’ve all been seriously impacted, and it’s been far more widespread than just the close neighbours in Bromley.

“This isn’t something we can turn off for six months and rebuild. The wastewater treatment plant is essential for the whole city, and that makes the situation incredibly complex.”

Simons said the odour should be recognised as a form of pollution, with real and ongoing health impacts.

“It’s very real, and it does have an impact on health, not only their physical health but mental health.

“It causes ongoing trauma because you can’t get away from it, and that puts you in a state of anxiety and that anxiety stays with you.”

She also referenced a previous odour issue for Bromley residents from the former Living Earth compost plant, which processed the city’s organic waste and has since closed.

“We had this situation with the compost plant, and we managed to fix that because we could get it shut down and moved.

“We can’t shut the wastewater treatment plant down. We need it, it’s for the whole city.”

While acknowledging community frustration, Simons said she believed the council was committed to resolving the issue.

“I totally appreciate what my residents are going through; the council is actually doing the best that they can.

“I think it is time for top executives from the council to actually again get together and talk with the residents and with their teams to come to some form of recognition of the people that are suffering most.”

The problem follows previous disruptions at the wastewater treatment plant, including a fire in November 2021 that sent thick black smoke across the city and prompted a public health warning from the Canterbury DHB.

Contractors had been working on the roof when the fire started, with one person sustaining a minor superficial injury.