Featherston Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade
South Wairarapa District Council is upgrading the Featherston Wastewater Treatment Plant to improve environmental outcomes and meet regulatory requirements. The plant currently discharges treated wastewater into Donalds Creek. This practice is inconsistent with cultural values and national freshwater standards, so we are working toward reducing discharges to waterways and transitioning to land-based disposal over time.
A 10-year resource consent was approved by Greater Wellington Regional Council in October 2025. The consent allows SWDC to continue operating while implementing staged improvements and monitoring environmental effects.
About the project
The 10-year timeframe allows continued discharge of treated wastewater into Donalds Creek, and contaminants to air from the treatment plant. During that period the Council will implement planned upgrades, and test and refine the land application system prior to further expansion of the land treatment area. This work will inform the long-term wastewater treatment solution.
The upgrades, budgeted in the 2025-34 Long-Term Plan include:
– New inlet screens to improve filtration
– Enhanced oxidation pond equipment for better treatment efficiency
– Introduction of Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) technology to reduce sediment and contaminants
– A constructed wetland and vegetated land contact area to naturally filter effluent
– A land application trial using trickle irrigation to reduce discharge to waterways
As part of the consent, the council will maintain a Community Liaison Group (CLG) to enable ongoing engagement with mana whenua and the wider community.
Key documents
Decision letter
FWWTP Decision Report
FWWTP consent conditions
Background
The resource consent application, lodged to regulator Greater Wellington Regional Council in May 2023, attracted 28 submissions and was publicly notified in October 2024. With no appeals received, the consent officially commenced on 31 October 2025.
With effect 1 July 2025, SWDC took back ownership of the Capital Delivery Programme and associated projects from Wellington Water.
Prior to this, we were working with Wellington Water to determine a preferred option for the treatment and disposal of Featherston’s wastewater. To do this we aimed to identify and consider all potential options for improving the existing treatment plant by working with the community, iwi and stakeholders.
Monthly Report – August 2022
Community Update – September 2022
Monthly Consent Report – September 2022
Community Update – November 2022
