Tokoroa digester officially opens

Council’s largest single capital works project, the Tokoroa digester, has officially opened this morning after a blessing by local iwi officials.

Located at the Tokoroa Wastewater Treatment Plant site and costing $9.6M, the digester is the largest component of a district wide $30 million wastewater upgrade.

Three Waters and Solid Waste Manager Phil Burt acknowledged the hard work and persistence of lead contractors Spartan Construction and subcontractors, despite the challenges faced with Covid restrictions, supply chain and shipping delays during construction.

“This digester project is just one component of multiple projects already underway or planned for wastewater treatment in the District,” Mr Burt said.

“Council has shown great vision in securing 35-year resource consents for all our wastewater plants and in constructing new infrastructure that will serve this district for many years to come.”

Mayor Jenny Shattock said that it was fantastic to see this finished project which had been constructed to cater for future growth anticipated over the next 30 years.

“Council has invested extensively in wastewater (and water supply) as part of its commitment to providing quality core services to its community,” she said.

“Not only will the new digester be more efficient, it will also be more environmentally friendly in the future by generating its own energy and being more self-sufficient.”

Over the last two months the digester site has been transformed with the inclusion of piping, ducting, mixers and electrical cabling extending its way to each of the tanks through the site and formation of the access road.

In addition to the finishing touches, the integration with the existing plant operation has also been completed and is ready for when commissioning starts.

The existing digester has served the Tokoroa community well since it was first commissioned in 1958. When the new digester is up and running, it will be decommissioned and an assessment will be done for refurbishment as a back-up.

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