Consents are already approved for the new wastewater treatment plant on Old Coach Road, the new pump station at the Childrens Bay boat park and to upgrade the wastewater network of pipes and connections.
Additional consents are needed for the irrigation scheme. We lodged applications for these consents with Environment Canterbury (ECan) and the Christchurch City Council Planning Team at the end of May 2023.
The new applications seek consent to irrigate treated recycled wastewater to native trees at Hammond Point and Robinsons Bay, and to the Recreation Ground at the northern end of Akaroa. We’re also seeking consent to construct a wetland basin and a storage tank at the paddock at the top of Old Coach Road, and a larger set of storage tanks at the Robinsons Bay site.
Earlier in the project we anticipated also needing land for irrigation at Takamātua but, at the time of applying, that site was not required and is not included in our consent applications.
The applications are for consent to:
- Discharge treated wastewater to land (to irrigate trees)
- Store treated wastewater in tanks and in a wetland
- Store untreated wastewater in a storm buffer tank at the Old Coach Road site
- Construct a new wetland and storage tanks
- Discharge treated water to the cricket ground and north Akaroa parks for irrigation
The applications package includes all the required forms and various reports and assessments to support the application.
The consent applications to ECan focus on discharging treated wastewater to land, while the applications to Christchurch City Council relate to land use, including storage of treated wastewater, and earthworks.
We'll be working with both organisations, answering questions, clarifying information or providing additional information if asked.
ECan and the Christchurch City Council’s consent team will decide whether to publicly notify the consent application or to give limited notification.
As the applicant, Christchurch City Council’s Three Waters Team has no influence on either organisation’s processes.
The resource consenting process is outlined on ECan's Welcome to Consents(external link) webpage.