New connections to the Hāwea wastewater network will be limited until the network is upgraded, “to protect the environment and meet regulatory requirements”, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says.

QLDC announced the measure today (Tuesday September 30), saying it will “limit additional loading on the Hāwea Wastewater Treatment Plant” (WWTP) after the facility failed to achieve its 12-month rolling mean for nitrogen levels in its treated wastewater. 

QLDC is currently operating under an abatement notice from Otago Regional Council (ORC) in relation to its compliance with nitrogen discharge limits.

Hāwea’s existing wastewater treatment plant was built in 1998 and upgraded in 2000; but it doesn’t meet current demand and has been in breach of compliance conditions for years. Since 2022 loads of waste have been trucked each week from Lake Hāwea’s Longview subdivision to Project Pure - with the cost met by Longview developer Universal Developments. 

QLDC has major upgrades planned for the Upper Clutha wastewater network, which are scheduled for completion by early 2027. The scope of the upgrades includes construction of a new wastewater pump station on Domain Road in Lake Hāwea, as well as construction of a 12.5km rising main from Domain Road to an Albert Town waste water pump station.

Read more: Bigger than Ben Hur: Multi-million dollar wastewater upgrades on the books

“These improvements will significantly increase capacity and support future growth in the Hāwea area,” QLDC said in a statement released today.

All subdivision applications yet to be lodged and subdivision applications currently being processed will have conditions of consent imposed on them (should they be approved) that restrict the ability to connect to the Hāwea WWTP until the upgrade is completed.

New connections may be permitted in limited circumstances, however.

QLDC said new wastewater connections may be approved if building on a vacant section that already has an existing wastewater connection; for developments with a valid resource or building consent granted before September 30, 2025; when adding a second residential unit or a residential flat as a permitted activity; and for two-lot subdivisions under the Proposed District Plan where the only reason for subdivision consent is a rule breach of Rule 27.5.2, or 27.5.3, or 27.5.5, or 27.5.7, and all other district plan rules are met.   

Find QLDC’s guidance on resource consent applications here.

“Council has carefully considered the capacity issues in connection with the currently consented and permitted activities and considers this an appropriate response to the issue at this time,” QLDC’s statement said.    

PHOTO: Wānaka App