Applications for new wastewater connections in Martinborough are being put on pause in Martinborough for the time being because the town’s wastewater plant has failed to meet performance and compliance standards. This is effective immediately.

The plant has also reached its design capacity as population growth and annual connections have far exceeded expectations.

Significant performance and compliance issues resulted in Greater Wellington Regional Council (Greater Wellington) issuing an Abatement Notice for the plant in August 2022.

The public health risk from previous discharges to the river is very low and independent specialists engaged by Greater Wellington assessed the environmental risks as negligible.

An abatement notice means the Council is required to act to remedy the identified issues and return the plant to compliance by a certain date and remain in compliance thereafter.

In addition, specialist advice from Council’s water services provider, Wellington Water Limited (WWL), is that additional connections would further compromise the plant’s performance, increasing the risk to the environment, public health and safety. There is also the possibility of more severe enforcement action from Greater Wellington.

This means that the Council is obliged to pause applications for new connections to the Martinborough Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWWTP) effective immediately.

Council has already started working with customers who have a connection request in train to clarify their status. All permits, resource management and building consents that have been received and approved by Council will be honoured and a connection to the wastewater network made.

Interim Chief Executive, Paul Gardner said, “WWL, alongside South Wairarapa District Council, is urgently working on a delivery plan to bring the plant back to full compliance as soon as possible, while keeping Greater Wellington updated on progress.”

Council had prepared a draft Compliance Delivery Plan that sets out how Council plans to address the issues with the MWWTP. The Compliance Delivery Plan is expected to be submitted to Greater Wellington by the end of May 2023 and, assuming it is accepted by them, funding will be secured, and work will begin. Growth studies to support the second stage of work will be carried out simultaneously with the compliance work over the next two years to fully inform design of the required capacity increase.

South Wairarapa Mayor, Martin Connelly and Councillors regret that new wastewater connections have been put on hold, but fully support the decision to do so. Mayor Connelly added “We hope to have the plant compliant within 24 months. We will pause new connections for only as long as needed.”

Funding for both components of the staged plan is not yet confirmed, although some initial funding to start work is included in our proposed 2023/24 Annual Plan. Significant additional funding from either Council’s 2024-34 Long-term Plan or via the new Entity post-Water Reform will be required.

The plant is located at the end of Weld Street in Martinborough.

For enquiries, please email enquiries@swdc.govt.nz or call 06 306 9611.

Frequently asked questions

Why is this becoming an issue now?
The Abatement Notice from Greater Wellington Regional Council has triggered this action. Prior to that time and following the Abatement Notice, approvals from WWL for new applications for connection have been forthcoming.

WWL has now given us new technical advice. As a responsible territorial authority, we cannot risk further strain on the plant, with the consequential risks to mana whenua interests, the health of the waterways, public health, environmental impacts and legal action against the Council.
Why was the abatement notice issued?

Greater Wellington issued this Abatement Notice due to the frequency of non-compliance discharges from the plant to land and water. Council has been instructed by Greater Wellington through the Abatement Notice to cease and be prohibited from commencing all unauthorised discharges from the MWWTP by 15 August 2023 and continue to comply thereafter.

The MWWTP has been in operation since the 1970’s. The plant has not had the levels of investment needed over its lifetime to maintain its treatment capacity and operational resiliency. The MWWTP requires new pumps, Ultraviolet (UV) systems, screening and treatment systems, among other things. We have also seen higher than expected growth, both in terms of population and new service connections, since the resource consent was renewed in 2016. This has put extra pressure on the plant, pushing it beyond its capacity limits.
In addition, we have the impact of ageing infrastructure across the whole water network. A key issue is Inflow and Infiltration. This occurs when groundwater and stormwater find its way into the wastewater pipes, often due to leaky pipes underground or cross-connections. This increases the volume of water entering the treatment plant, particularly during periods of high rainfall, again pushing the treatment plant beyond its operational capacity.

What are you doing about it?
Council had prepared a draft Compliance Delivery Plan that sets out how Council plans to address the issues with the MWWTP, which was paused while Greater Wellington commissioned a risk assessment. A further draft of the Compliance Delivery Plan is expected to be submitted to Greater Wellington by the end of May 2023 and, assuming it is accepted by them, funding will be secured, and work will begin.

The draft wastewater compliance plan includes a range of operational upgrades and improvements, which are still being finalised. Our estimate is that this will take up to two years and then will be followed by a second stage of work to increase capacity which will take several years to deliver. Growth studies to support the second stage of work will be carried out simultaneously with the compliance work over the next two years to fully inform design.

Funding for both components of the staged plan is not yet confirmed, although some initial funding to start work is included in our proposed 2023/24 Annual Plan. Significant additional funding from either Council’s 2024-34 Long-term Plan or via the new Entity post-Water Reform will be required.

We will keep the community updated on key milestones as we and Wellington Water work together towards making the plant fully compliant.

When will new connections be possible again?
We hope to have the plant back to a compliant state within 24 months. At the same time, we will be working on a plan to increase the capacity of the plant to accommodate future growth.

What about those who have an application in the pipeline, or were thinking about connecting?
South Wairarapa District Council appreciates the impact this decision will have on developers and people seeking to build new homes in the town. We regret having to make this decision which we know will temporarily slow growth in the region. We will pause new connections for only as long as needed.

Companies and individuals considering new development, and who are currently preparing to make an application, should contact the Council and discuss their situation. All permits, resource management and building consents that have been received and approved by Council will be honoured and a connection to the wastewater network made.

Timeline of actions following the Abatement Notice
15 August 2022 – The Council received the Abatement Notice from Greater Wellington. Proposed corrective action plan.

1 December 2022 – The Council responded to Greater Wellington with a corrective action plan, as required.

13 March 2023 – Report from independent scientist to assess the effects of continued non-compliance with the land-discharge limits and effluent quality standards on water quality and ecology in the Ruamāhanga River.

21 April 2023 – WWL wrote to Council advising approvals for all new connections to cease.

All documents and additional FAQs can be found on the project page for the Martinborough Wastewater Treatment Plant.