The Council manages the stormwater, wastewater and drinking water systems in urban areas around the Whakatāne District. This includes:
- Six wastewater treatment plants and the network of pipes that connect to them
- Ten public water supply systems, sourcing and treating water from a range of locations
- A new wastewater scheme currently under development
- Stormwater systems that help manage rainwater and reduce flooding in main towns
Expiring consents and infrastructure upgrades
Many of Council’s water and wastewater consents are coming up for renewal over the next few years. These consents allow us to take water and to discharge treated wastewater into rivers and streams.
Most of the wastewater consents were originally granted for 35 years. Recent law changes extended their expiry dates slightly, but most will now run out in August 2028.
To replace them, Council will need to carry out detailed planning and technical assessments. In many cases, this will also mean significant upgrades to our treatment plants to meet today’s environmental and regulatory standards.
These upgrades will require major investment, and the cost will vary depending on what’s needed for each community.
Three Waters Consent Replacement Programme Strategy
In May 2024, the Infrastructure and Planning Committee approved the Three Water Consent Replacement Programme Strategy, which sets out how we’ll resource and carry out the consent replacement programme.
The programme includes individual consent replacement projects, listed at the bottom of this web page.
Programme objectives
As we deliver the programme, the Council and project team will aim to:
- Put people, the environment and affordability at the forefront of decision-making.
- Determine and address adverse effects from the existing and future wastewater and water schemes while meeting statutory requirements and balancing delivery of the four well beings (cultural, social, environmental and economic).
- Work collaboratively with mana whenua on the replacement of relevant wastewater and water consents located within their rohe.
- Recognise and plan for growth over the long-term (as per Whakatāne's Local Growth Plan).
- Support delivery of the Local Water Done Well 30-year implementation plan that supports balancing the funding and phasing of upgrades against affordability principles.
- Identify preferred options, in a manner that appropriately considers agreed project objectives, the four wellbeings, and relevant legislative frameworks.
- Develop resource consent applications and any other necessary approvals, to implement the preferred options identified.
Each project in the programme will outline its objectives for that consent through a dedicated project plan.
Community benefits
Replacing these wastewater and water take consents will bring a range of benefits to the Whakatāne District, such as:
- Improved community wellbeing and public health outcomes.
- Improved environmental outcomes, including improved health and wellbeing of waterways.
- Improved cultural outcomes, including improved wellbeing of waterways and protection of significant sites.
- Continued ability to provide core services to safeguard health, wellbeing and the environment.
- More opportunities for localised residential, papakāinga and business development.
- Designs that meet legal requirements while keeping costs fair and manageable
Collaboration with iwi, whānau and hapū
The Council is committed to working alongside iwi, whānau and hapū on all consent replacement projects. We will embed engagement processes that honour our role as iwi partners and meet the requirements of Section 6 of the Resource Management Act - recognising matters of national importance such as "the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu (sacred places) and other taonga [treasures]."
When consent replacements go beyond a simple 'like-for-like' renewal, we will collaborate on solutions with iwi, hapū and whānau in their respective communities. This ensures a cultural lens is applied and acknowledges the important role of Māori in shaping how their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu and taonga are protected.
While iwi, hapū and whānau can offer direction, advice, and recommendations on preferred options for each project, the final decision rests with the Council. They can still form and express their own views on the selected options, including through any statutory process.
For standalone water take schemes where we are applying for a 'like-for-like' consent, we will follow standard iwi, hapū and whānau consultation processes. This applies to water supplies for Waimana, Tāneatua, Murupara, Matatā, Rugby Park irrigation and potentially the Rangitāiki Plains.
Community engagement
These projects are about building solutions that work for our communities, so it's important your voice is heard. Wastewater upgrades affect both the environment and how our towns plan for the future, so your input matters. Engagement will happen for each project as it progresses and you’ll have the chance to be involved at each stage.
The projects
Wastewater consents
Murupara Wastewater Project
Murupara's wastewater is collected through a gravity sewer system and treated in two oxidation ponds located at the junction of the Rangitāiki and Whirinaki Rivers. Treated effluent is discharged into the Rangitāiki River under resource consents, which expire on 26 August 2028.
The Council is working in co-design with Ngāti Manawa to determine the future approach to wastewater management and to apply for replacement consents.
Tāneatua Wastewater Project
Tāneatua has a reticulated wastewater scheme, currently serviced by a gravity network and two-stage ponds on the edge of town, next to the Whakatāne River.
At present, treated water is discharged into the river. To address this, a co-design group is being established, bringing together tangata whenua and Council to work in partnership on future treatment and disposal solutions for the Tāneatua community.
Whakatāne Wastewater Project
The Whakatāne wastewater scheme is the largest in the district, serving the majority of the population. Wastewater is currently treated at a facility west of town using oxidation ponds, with the treated water discharged into the ocean through a 600-metre outfall pipe at Coastlands Beach.
The project will progress replacement consents due to expire on 26 August 2028. Co-design with iwi and hapū, alongside technical assessments and engagement with regulators, will guide the work. The goal is a long-term solution that is culturally appropriate, environmentally sustainable, resilient and affordable.
Edgecumbe Wastewater Project
Edgecumbe’s wastewater is currently treated in a two-stage pond system on the edge of town, next to the Omeheu Canal, with treated water then discharged into the canal and on to the Tarawera River. There is strong support for exploring alternative disposal options that move away from the current discharge into the Omeheu Canal.
The network itself also faces challenges, which was poorly designed originally, and further damaged in the March 1987 earthquake. Despite major repairs, too much rainwater still enters the system during wet weather and improving this will be a key focus for the project. As part of this work, opportunities to integrate with other wastewater schemes will also be considered.