Construction of the new Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant has reached a milestone, with the installation of 78 towering precast concrete walls that will form the core of the facility’s wastewater treatment system.

The walls, manufactured by Preco and installed by McConnell Dowell and Pollock Cranes, stand more than 8.5m high and are up to 2.7m wide.

The walls form the Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) tanks, where the main treatment process will take place. The tanks are designed to remove contaminants from wastewater before it is safely discharged.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council senior water services project engineer Fazrul Khairy said the new facility would play a vital role in supporting the town’s future growth.

“The new plant is a key part of future proofing Te Puke. The area is growing, and we need infrastructure that can grow with us,” Khairy said.

“The facility will replace and significantly upgrade the existing plant on Gordon Street. It’s designed to meet much higher environmental standards, provide greater resilience, and support the long-term health of both our community and our environment.”

Work is now continuing on the construction of the SBR tanks and other major structures across the site.

The plant remains on track to be operational in 2028 and will replace the existing wastewater treatment plant on Gordon St.

Traffic management remains in place around the construction site, with drivers briefed on safety requirements around pedestrians, cyclists and neighbouring properties.

Council acknowledged there may be temporary disruption for nearby residents during construction and said it would continue working closely with the community to keep people informed about upcoming works.

The upgraded plant is one of the district’s largest infrastructure projects and is aimed at ensuring Te Puke has the capacity and environmental safeguards needed to support future population growth.