October 2025 - We're over halfway there!

August 2025 marked a milestone in the construction of Hauraki District Council’s single biggest investment in infrastructure in the district’s history.

The new $40 million Paeroa Wastewater Treatment Plant reached the halfway mark to completion on budget and on time.

To celebrate the halfway mark, a barbecue lunch was hosted on site by the contractor, Spartan Construction and invitations were extended to the Mayor and Hauraki District Council’s Chief Executive, as well as members of senior management. All were given a site visit to view how construction was progressing.

Council Chief Executive, David Speirs commented: “Last time I was at this site, the focus was on drilling and pouring hundreds of concrete piles to stabilize the ground before any building could occur, so there wasn’t much to see. However, at the 50% completion mark, above ground progress is well underway with sludge tanks, filters, filter tanks all in construction. The site is really taking shape and looks great.”

The upgrade will replace three existing oxidation ponds with a state-of-the-art mechanical plant, which is designed to achieve a higher quality discharge to meet with environmental standards. The new plant will be less than a fifth of the footprint of the existing system.

The project includes the construction of the following: A new screening system; concrete aeration tanks over six metres in height; membrane bioreactor technology; new equipment and administration buildings; 240kL sludge storage tanks; sludge dewatering; chemical dosing; and numerous other ancillary structures.

The project forms part of a ten-year, $100 million investment in wastewater infrastructure across the district that began in 2022. This upgrade is sized to meet Paeroa's growth needs up to 2035 in its first phase, with provisions made for stage two growth catering to 2050 requirements.

A spokesperson for Spartan Construction said: "It's been really challenging but we are making great progress. We have a great team on board from Spartan Construction, Hauraki District Council, Veolia, and other key partners. It's enabled us to keep this complex infrastructure, including civil, structural, and mechanical and electrical engineering aspects, on track. There are lots of moving parts."

They added: “We would also like to take the opportunity to thank all of the local businesses who have supported the project.”

Construction work on the Paeroa Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade is expected to continue through to early 2026 with the new plant scheduled to be fully commissioned around mid-2026. So, watch this space for further updates.