Controversial Ruakākā ocean sewage pipeline moves closer
Fri, 18th Sep 2026 (Today)
A controversial $52 million proposal to pipe treated wastewater into the ocean off the Ruakākā coast in Northland has moved a significant step closer, with key approvals expected before the end of the year.
A progress report to Whangārei District Council's infrastructure committee on Thursday (September 17) shows the detailed business case for the proposed ocean outfall has been completed and approved by the project's steering group.
It will now go before the Northland Waters board next month before heading to Whangārei District Council in November, putting the project on track for a final decision before the end of the year.
If approved, construction would begin in autumn next year and be completed by July 2031.
The proposal would see treated wastewater from a planned new Ruakākā wastewater treatment plant at Rama Road near Marsden Point discharged into the ocean.
It would be New Zealand's first new open-ocean treated wastewater outfall in more than a decade.
The ocean outfall is also the first of three major Ruakākā wastewater projects expected to move into construction.
The project forms part of wider plans to provide wastewater capacity for future residential and commercial growth across Bream Bay.
The ocean pipeline's design has been undertaken by a United States-based engineering and infrastructure company with about 51,000 employees worldwide.
It specialises in major water, wastewater and environmental infrastructure projects.
Alternative wastewater disposal options are also being investigated.
A completed separate business case examining ocean outfall alternatives is also due before the Northland Waters board next month for endorsement before being considered by the council in November.
The assessment is being undertaken by a team including Canadian engineering giant WSP, PDP and Williamson Water & Land Advisory (WWLA).
The work is examining whether alternatives could provide a viable long-term wastewater disposal solution for the growing Bream Bay area.
Work assessing alternative discharge options is scheduled to continue through the 2029-30 financial year.
Work on a significantly larger Ruakākā wastewater treatment plant at Rama Rd near Marsden Point is also progressing.
A business case for the treatment plant has been completed and is scheduled to go before the Northland Waters board next month before heading to Whangārei District Council in November.
Construction of the upgraded treatment plant is currently programmed to begin in early 2028 and be completed by July 2031.
The treatment plant design programme has been led by Auckland-based environmental and engineering consultancy PDP (Pattle Delamore Partners), which was commissioned to investigate options and develop preliminary designs.
Meanwhile, work has begun securing additional interim discharge capacity for the existing Ruakākā wastewater treatment plant while long-term solutions are developed.
Design work is under way at Te Poupouwhenua, where site assessments have been completed and vegetation management plans are being implemented to help determine pipeline routes and address environmental constraints.
Investigations are also under way on Land Information New Zealand-owned land, where percolation testing has been completed. Results expected next month will help determine whether rapid filtration is a viable treated wastewater disposal option.
Design work for the interim discharge project is being led by Canadian engineering and environmental consultancy Stantec, which employs about 32,000 people worldwide and specialises in water, wastewater and infrastructure projects.
The interim discharge project is scheduled for completion in April.
