'Objectionable odour' in Wellington prompts complaints

6:09 am on 3 December 2023
Seaview wastewater treatment plant.

Seaview wastewater treatment plant. Photo: Google Maps

A Wellington wastewater treatment plant is breaching consent with a foul odour after a biofilter media was changed.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has received 43 complaints so far in November around the awful stench coming from the Seaview wastewater treatment plant.

Environment group manager Lian Butcher said operator Veolia New Zealand carried out a pre-planned biofilter media replacement on 14 November, "a mechanism designed to help reduce odour levels, which in turn helps ensure compliance with the plant operator's consent conditions".

"While the biofilter media is being replaced, the plant operator is not consented to discharge offensive or objectionable odour beyond its boundary."

Wellington Water, Veolia New Zealand and Hutt City Council had also received complaints.

Butcher said the GWRC was aware Wellington Water and Hutt City Council notified the public about plans to replace the filters.

They will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday at 5.30pm at Pelorus Sports House at Hutt Park to discuss the odour levels.

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