Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is asking members of the public to provide feedback on its preferred option for solving Hāwea’s wastewater woes. 

Hāwea’s existing wastewater plant is more than 20 years old and it doesn’t meet the demand in the growing town. 

Council’s preferred long-term solution - to pump wastewater to the Project Pure Wastewater plant in Wānaka - will “futureproof” Hāwea’s wastewater needs, QLDC says. 

To pump wastewater to the Project Pure Plant a new pipeline would need to be installed between Hāwea and Albert Town, where it would connect to Wānaka’s wastewater scheme. 

QLDC wants the public to weigh in by completing an online form or by attending a drop-in session taking place at the Hāwea Library between 10am and 1pm today (Saturday August 6). 

Councillor Quentin Smith said the drop-in session will provide a good opportunity to hear from the project team how the project is progressing and provide feedback.

“If people are interested in that project there is an opportunity… to go in and talk to the team about it,” Quentin said.

Visitors to the drop-in session will also learn more about council’s interim solution for Hāwea’s wastewater issues, which would be in place until the long-term solution is in place. 

“We’re planning an interim upgrade to the existing wastewater treatment plant to alleviate immediate operational issues,” QLDC said in a statement. 

Feedback on the preferred option, either online or at the drop-in session, will help the project team tailor the proposed options “with the wants and needs of the community”.  

When the business case for the preferred option is brought to full council, feedback will also help ensure elected members have a broad understanding of how the community feels when making a final decision. 

Visit the online form here or head along to today’s drop-in session. 

PHOTO: Supplied