Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant

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Kia ora, welcome to the Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant project page. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the project, including the latest updates, Frequently Asked Questions, and a timeline of upcoming steps. Check out the information on the right-hand side of this page (or if you're on a device, scroll to the end of the page) for all this and more.


Te Puke is growing – and we need infrastructure that can grow with us.

That’s why we’re building a brand-new wastewater treatment plant for our town.

The new facility will replace and significantly upgrade the existing plant on Gordon Street. It’s designed to meet much higher environmental standards, provide greater resilience, and support the long-term health of both our community and our environment.


This project is a key part of futureproofing Te Puke:

  • It will treat wastewater to a cleaner standard, helping to protect local waterways.
  • It will provide capacity for an additional 3,000 people - keeping pace with Te Puke’s growth.
  • It will support new businesses and industries, including the nearby future Rangiuru Business Park.
  • It ensures our wastewater network meets modern seismic and resource consent requirements.

While this type of work often happens out of sight, it plays a vital role in keeping our town thriving - now and into the future.


Why do we need a new plant?

  • The existing plant no longer meets the latest discharge and seismic standards.
  • Our community is growing - more homes and businesses mean more wastewater to manage.
  • New technology allows us to treat wastewater to a much higher quality - better for our environment and our local streams.

You can find Council agendas and resolutions on this page about the decision to replace - rather than renew - Te Puke’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with the reasons behind it. Some details in the documents have been redacted for commercial sensitivity.


Latest Update - June 2026

Construction of the new Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant continues to progress well, with the project reaching another significant milestone.

📸 Check out the latest timelapse photos to see progress at the site.

Ground improvement works are now complete, providing the foundation for construction of the plant's main treatment tanks. This work involved strengthening the ground to create a stable base for the new facility and marks the transition into the next phase of construction.

Ground improvements work
are now complete
Over June, the project team will undertake two large concrete pours for the main treatment structures. These pours involve significant volumes of concrete and need to be completed as part of a continuous construction process to achieve the required durability and structural strength of the facility. As a result, nearby residents may notice increased truck movements and some early morning activity during these works

Concrete pours starting this week


We have been working closely with residents living near the site to keep them informed about upcoming construction activity and what to expect. Traffic management will be in place throughout these works to help keep everyone safe.


What's Next?

With the ground improvement works complete, construction will now focus on the plant's Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) tanks and other major treatment plant structures.

The project remains on track, with the new facility expected to be operational in 2028. Once complete, it will provide Te Puke with a modern wastewater treatment system that supports growth, meets stricter environmental standards, and helps protect our local environment for decades to come.


Gordon St access to Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway closed

To keep everyone safe during the construction of the new Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Gordon Street access to the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists from Monday 19 January.

Heavy trucks will be using the driveway off Gordon Street (part of the pathway) until the new plant is completed in 2028 - so this section will remain closed for the duration of the build.

Check the map below to see which part of the track is closed and plan your preferred route:


McConnell Dowell is designing and building the treatment plant

In October 2025 Council confirmed McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd will design and build Te Puke’s new wastewater treatment plant. This decision followed a competitive Early Contractor Involvement process, supported by probity advice from Audit New Zealand and independent cost reviews to ensure transparency, value for money, and confidence in the delivery approach.

The project will be delivered in stages:

  • Stage 1 will provide capacity for approximately 13,000 people, along with servicing demand for Stage 1 of the Rangiuru Business Park.

  • The plant will also include the key infrastructure required for a future Stage 2 upgrade, which will be implemented as growth requires, effectively futureproofing the facility until at least 2054.

A range of options were considered, including upgrading the existing treatment plant. After assessing long-term costs, resilience, environmental performance, and compliance requirements, Council determined that building a new facility offered the best overall outcome for the community.

Work began in January 2026. The new facility is expected to be operational in early 2028, following commissioning.


Have pātai (questions)?

Email: info@westernbay.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 926 732

You can also click ‘Stay Informed’ at the top of this page to get email updates as the project moves forward.

Kia ora, welcome to the Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant project page. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the project, including the latest updates, Frequently Asked Questions, and a timeline of upcoming steps. Check out the information on the right-hand side of this page (or if you're on a device, scroll to the end of the page) for all this and more.


Te Puke is growing – and we need infrastructure that can grow with us.

That’s why we’re building a brand-new wastewater treatment plant for our town.

The new facility will replace and significantly upgrade the existing plant on Gordon Street. It’s designed to meet much higher environmental standards, provide greater resilience, and support the long-term health of both our community and our environment.


This project is a key part of futureproofing Te Puke:

  • It will treat wastewater to a cleaner standard, helping to protect local waterways.
  • It will provide capacity for an additional 3,000 people - keeping pace with Te Puke’s growth.
  • It will support new businesses and industries, including the nearby future Rangiuru Business Park.
  • It ensures our wastewater network meets modern seismic and resource consent requirements.

While this type of work often happens out of sight, it plays a vital role in keeping our town thriving - now and into the future.


Why do we need a new plant?

  • The existing plant no longer meets the latest discharge and seismic standards.
  • Our community is growing - more homes and businesses mean more wastewater to manage.
  • New technology allows us to treat wastewater to a much higher quality - better for our environment and our local streams.

You can find Council agendas and resolutions on this page about the decision to replace - rather than renew - Te Puke’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, along with the reasons behind it. Some details in the documents have been redacted for commercial sensitivity.


Latest Update - June 2026

Construction of the new Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant continues to progress well, with the project reaching another significant milestone.

📸 Check out the latest timelapse photos to see progress at the site.

Ground improvement works are now complete, providing the foundation for construction of the plant's main treatment tanks. This work involved strengthening the ground to create a stable base for the new facility and marks the transition into the next phase of construction.

Ground improvements work
are now complete
Over June, the project team will undertake two large concrete pours for the main treatment structures. These pours involve significant volumes of concrete and need to be completed as part of a continuous construction process to achieve the required durability and structural strength of the facility. As a result, nearby residents may notice increased truck movements and some early morning activity during these works

Concrete pours starting this week


We have been working closely with residents living near the site to keep them informed about upcoming construction activity and what to expect. Traffic management will be in place throughout these works to help keep everyone safe.


What's Next?

With the ground improvement works complete, construction will now focus on the plant's Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) tanks and other major treatment plant structures.

The project remains on track, with the new facility expected to be operational in 2028. Once complete, it will provide Te Puke with a modern wastewater treatment system that supports growth, meets stricter environmental standards, and helps protect our local environment for decades to come.


Gordon St access to Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway closed

To keep everyone safe during the construction of the new Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Gordon Street access to the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists from Monday 19 January.

Heavy trucks will be using the driveway off Gordon Street (part of the pathway) until the new plant is completed in 2028 - so this section will remain closed for the duration of the build.

Check the map below to see which part of the track is closed and plan your preferred route:


McConnell Dowell is designing and building the treatment plant

In October 2025 Council confirmed McConnell Dowell Constructors Ltd will design and build Te Puke’s new wastewater treatment plant. This decision followed a competitive Early Contractor Involvement process, supported by probity advice from Audit New Zealand and independent cost reviews to ensure transparency, value for money, and confidence in the delivery approach.

The project will be delivered in stages:

  • Stage 1 will provide capacity for approximately 13,000 people, along with servicing demand for Stage 1 of the Rangiuru Business Park.

  • The plant will also include the key infrastructure required for a future Stage 2 upgrade, which will be implemented as growth requires, effectively futureproofing the facility until at least 2054.

A range of options were considered, including upgrading the existing treatment plant. After assessing long-term costs, resilience, environmental performance, and compliance requirements, Council determined that building a new facility offered the best overall outcome for the community.

Work began in January 2026. The new facility is expected to be operational in early 2028, following commissioning.


Have pātai (questions)?

Email: info@westernbay.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 926 732

You can also click ‘Stay Informed’ at the top of this page to get email updates as the project moves forward.