Challenge

Decommissioning an outdated wastewater treatment plant with environmental and safety risks.

Solution

Ventia's Water and Transport teams collaborated with FNDC to safely remove hazardous materials, recycle components, and restore the site.

Impact

The project reduced landfill waste, improved community land use, and supported sustainable regional growth in Kerikeri.

Ventia’s team in Northland recently completed the successful removal and decommissioning of an old wastewater treatment plant in Kerikeri in the far north. 

This complex project, which utilised expertise from across the Ventia business involved safely removing hazardous materials, redundant structures and obsolete processing components, responsibly recycling materials, and restoring the site for future land use. 

“Our diverse service offering is something that can provide real value for our customers when managing complex projects or challenges,” says Euan Rodger, General Manager Water.

Aerial image of site prior to the decommissioning

Collaboration is key, and it was great to see our Water and Transport teams partnering with Far North District Council (FNDC) to eliminate these risks and open the site up for future land use.

The decades-old plant on Shepherd Road was decommissioned in late 2024 following the construction of the new wastewater treatment plant by Ventia. The old wastewater plant, due to its age required removal for environmental safety reasons.

While a new, state-of-the-art facility, built by Ventia in 2020, was operational, the presence of the old plant presented challenges. Our Northland teams took on the challenge, aiming to safely decommission the outdated facility and recycle valuable materials like stainless steel and galvanized iron from the site, including the work platform, ladders, and tube fittings.

Having the expertise of our Water and Transport teams working together meant the job was effectively planned and delivered seamlessly for FNDC. The Transport team handled the removal of outdated equipment and debris, while the Water team provided project management, client liaison, hazardous material disposal and site preparations, including asset recording and utility disconnection. The project team worked closely with the council to recycle, upcycle, and reuse as much material as possible, minimising waste to landfill.

“We were able to repurpose some materials and recycle old concrete through the crushing plant in Puketona,” says Project Manager Rajaram Krishnapandi.

Aerial image of the site after decommissioning

We did come across some challenges when a live sewer line and water connection were discovered,” Rajaram adds. “But the team raised the issues, and we were able to adapt and proceed with the project smoothly and within the scope.

This proactive approach to problem-solving ensured the project stayed on track.

The decommissioning project has had several positive impacts:

  • Environmental Sustainability: The team's commitment to recycling and reuse has significantly reduced waste to landfill.
  • Community Benefit: The restored site, now returned to a grassed finish, can be reutilised for the benefit of the Kerikeri community.
  • Customer Satisfaction: The successful completion of the project has delivered a positive outcome for our client.
  • Regional Growth: By eliminating potential environmental risks and enabling future development, this project supports the continued growth of the Kerikeri region.