South Wairarapa District Council has received a ten-year resource consent for its proposed work at the Featherston Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The work is part of a broader strategy to transition towards land-based wastewater treatment, reducing reliance on waterway discharges and improving environmental outcomes.
Mayor Fran Wilde said the Council still faced significant challenges and had some serious decisions to make in a very short time frame.
“Balancing affordability with environmental responsibility will continue to be difficult. There are no easy or cheap options for wastewater treatment in a fragile, complex environment, and with a very small funding base”.
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. Mayor Wilde said this was an important condition and the Council would be making sure that it is undertaken with the confidence of the broader community.
“We’ve committed to trialling new solutions like a constructed wetland which will help filter and clean treated wastewater before it reaches our waterways, using plants and soil to remove contaminants. It’s a practical solution that not only improves water quality but also support biodiversity” shared James O’Connor, General Manager Infrastructure and Community Operations.
Mayor Wilde said that the wastewater infrastructure challenges in all three towns would remain a priority focus.
The 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.
The related documents from regulator GWRC are:
Decision letter
FWWTP Decision Report
FWWTP consent conditions
ENDS
Media contact: media@swdc.govt.nz