Cobden wastewater treatment upgrade

Sewage from Cobden, which currently goes into the Grey River treated, will soon be pumped to Preston Road in Greymouth, where the process meets modern compliance requirements.

When the existing Cobden plant is decommissioned, and sewage is pumped to Greymouth, it will clean up the Grey River and nearby sea for fishers, surfers and swimmers.

To enable sewage to be pumped to Preston Road, work is about to get under way at Cobden, at a cost of $1.2 million.

The current wastewater treatment plant is decades old, and uses UV to ‘clean’ (treat) sewage. The new gem-water shed will be built next door.

Sewage will be pumped to Preston Road via existing pipes for far more rigorous treatment, including bio-digestion.

Grey District Council utilities and infrastructure manager Stacey Beaver said: “It will get fully compliant treatment at Preston Road.”

Truline Civil has the contract.