Mayor Michael Laws officially opened Wanganui's new wastewater treatment plant on Tuesday.

This huge project is the result of decades of research and consultation and the application of the most modern technological and engineering skills available.

The plant

The wastewater treatment plant consists of a 10 metre deep aeration lagoon, a settling lagoon and an ultraviolet disinfection plant. The plant deals with 30 million litres of sewage and trade-waste per day. The effluent is pumped into the aeration lagoon and takes approximately three and a half days to pass through the system. This lagoon has 200 million litres of storage and pumps air into the waste through 17 floating aerators of 55kw each – equivalent to 2500 hairdryers.

From there the waste is transferred to the settling lagoon where 416 lamps treat it with ultraviolet light to kill any bacteria. The environmentally safe by-product then falls under gravity out to sea via the existing outfall.

Since the 1880s Wanganui's waste disposal system was a network of pipes that all led to the river. From there it was flushed out to sea or washed up on nearby beaches. It wasn't until the early 1970s that a wastewater scheme to remove sewage from the Whanganui River was first mooted.

In 1972, a report recommending a course of action was accepted by Council and in 1978 a loan was raised to allow commencement of the work.

First, large pipelines were built in the Castlecliff industrial area. This was followed by the major pump station, the under-river pipeline and, in 1984, the two kilometre long ocean outfall.

In 1989 a working party was formed to design a wastewater scheme for Wanganui.

In 1995 major pipelines were built on either side of the river to capture sewage and divert it to the pump stations which pumped it out to sea. As stormwater was included in the collection, it was designed to overflow into the river during periods of high rainfall. To eliminate overflow and save the river from further pollution, Wanganui's entire wastewater system would have to be separated.

In 2001 the separation of stormwater from sewage commenced in the public street systems, beginning in Aramoho.

In 2002 private properties had to start their own separation process with the aim to have all of Wanganui's private separation completed by 2007. By 2003 the working parties had agreed on a generic design of a treatment plant.

In 2006 the construction of the treatment plant began in the sand dunes near the airport. Part of the process required a new under-river pipeline. The existing jointed concrete pipe was fine while the waste was pumped straight out to sea, but pumping up to the new treatment plant would have increased the pressure beyond the strength of the concrete. This was a major engineering feat, involving 'dancing diggers' and specialised drilling equipment, to thread high strength plastic pipe of about a metre in diameter inside the existing concrete pipe. It wasn't without incident or drama but its accomplishment is a tribute to the engineers and contractors who made it happen.

Over $100 million has been spent on this massive undertaking, but we now have a wastewater treatment plant and the river is cleaner today than it has been for decades. Wanganui has come a long way since 1972, but the completion of the wastewater treatment plant is not the end of the work. We are now entering the final phase of public and private separation and, under the existing resource consent, we must have it completed by 2010.

Wanganui's reputation as a centre for glass excellence continues to blossom this spring with the inaugural Wanganui Festival of Glass opening on September 14 at the Chronicle Glass Studio. The Festival is the evolution of the immensely popular "Glass Week" event held in 2006, which saw Wanganui's Mainstreet come alive with stunning glass works by over 30 artists.

Glass on Mainstreet will again inspire locals and visitors with a diverse display of glass by established and emerging Wanganui artists. The exhibition Hot Property at the Sarjeant Gallery will celebrate 20 years of art glass practice in Wanganui, featuring work by graduates from the Diploma in Glass Design and Production and the Quay School of the Arts' Bachelor of Fine Arts programme. Current students will exhibit their innovative glass works within the Alexander Library in Queens Park.

Artists will treat the public to hot glass demonstrations, and the more adventurous can enrol in short intensive glass workshops. A highlight of any trip to Wanganui is a visit to the Chronicle Glass Studio, where you can view the glass blowing process in action and purchase exquisite hand blown pieces on display.

Since the Hot Glass studio opened at Wanganui Polytechnic in 1987, the glass department has hosted more than 30 internationally acclaimed glass artists as well as holding the hugely popular Glass Summer School workshops. The Glass Department has now blossomed into an even more dynamic educational experience and will soon enter a new era under the wing of the Wanganui District Council, which is championing the establishment of a new Wanganui Glass School.

Establishment of the Wanganui Glass School will ensure that Wanganui will retain its glass education facility and there will be the capacity to expand and broaden glass design and production in Wanganui. With a vibrant glass community and significant investment into the development of glass education, glass is quickly becoming a major attraction for Wanganui.

The Festival runs from September 15-30 at various locations throughout Wanganui. The photograph is of glass art by Carmen Simmonds.

Programmes and more information are available from Wanganui i-SITE in Guyton Street, Energy Direct Glass Info Centre at 23 Victoria Avenue or by contacting Teresa Goodin on 349 1863 or email Teresa Goodin.

Public meeting – September 13
Public/private use of redeveloped riverbank walkway – Moutoa Quay

The Council is calling a meeting of interested parties to discuss possible public/private use of the recently redeveloped Moutoa Quay riverbank walkway and surrounds.

The Council wants to develop this area into a vibrant public place and recognises that it will become a focal point for public gatherings and events. As caretaker for the public places in this area, the Council is keen to talk to interested parties, including neighbouring landowners and potential users.

Where: "River Room", Community Arts Centre, 19 Taupo Quay, Wanganui
When: 5.15pm, Thursday, 13 September 2007

If you require further information, please contact Stuart Hylton at the Council, phone 349 0001.

Have your say
Draft Tree Policy

The Council has developed a draft tree policy for Wanganui District and we need your input.

Do you agree with different suburbs having a different planting theme? Should the Council enhance the city entrances with planting? Do you like the London Plane trees in the Avenue? Have your say!

Who to contact for a copy:
Carolyn McIntyre, Policy Planner, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, PO Box 637, Wanganui
Phone: 349 0001 extn 8024, Fax: 349 0000.
Or copies can be collected from the Wanganui District Library or the Council, 101 Guyton Street.

Submissions close Friday, 12 October 2007. A public meeting will be held at the Council building (3rd floor), 101 Guyton Street, at 4.00pm on Wednesday, 26 September 2007, to discuss the draft policy.

Vacancies

Casual Rural Firefighters required for the 2007/08 season

The Wanganui District Council's Rural Fire Service requires enthusiastic people for the position of Casual Rural Firefighters.

Training to NZQA Unit Standards will be provided to all firefighters.

Applicants should have the following attributes:

• Be mentally and physically fit.
• Be able to be on 24-hour call and work rostered weekends.
• The ability to work under pressure.
• The ability to work in a team.
• A current driver's license or HT license would be an advantage.
• Previous experience in firefighting would be an advantage.

All applicants will be required to undergo a fitness test and security screening. Interested persons may leave their contact details or direct enquiries to:

Gwenda Prouse
NZ Fire Service
Wanganui
Phone 348 0103
Email Gwenda Prouse

or

Richard Terrey
Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer
Wanganui District Council
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui
Phone 349 0543 Extension 8070
Email Richard Terrey

Applications close at 4.00pm on Friday, 21 September 2007.

Council meetings

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Youth Committee – Monday, September 24 (Council Chamber)

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.