Ventia has won a new construction contract with Whangārei District Council to build the new Whau Valley Water Treatment Plant.

The new plant is one of the largest civil engineering projects in the history of Whangārei District Council and will secure the urban water supply in the region. The plant will be supplied with raw water from the existing Whau Valley Dam and the Hatea River.

Whangarei District Council's Infrastructure General Manager Simon Weston said, "Council considered that future-proofing our drinking water system was of paramount importance, and the new plant will provide this for decades to come.

It has been a long and involved process to bring us the point where the contract can be awarded, and I want to thank everyone who has been involved from the original concept, through the investigation, land acquisition, designation, design and planning.

The existing plant currently processes 15,000 cubic metres of water each day. The new plant will increase the water supply to 22,000 cubic metres a day and will be fitted with new filtration systems and the latest technology.

Broadspectrum's Chief Executive of Urban Infrastructure, Domenic De Fazio, welcomed the new contract: "We are privileged to bring this vital piece of infrastructure to the community of Whangarei District and look forward to working closely with the Council to deliver an exceptional outcome."

The new facility is expected to be operational in December 2020.