Neighbours’ Meeting 29 th September 2015

Introductions  David Hopman – Manager Assets and Operations  Kevin Godfrey – Treatment Plant Supervisor

 Communicate the findings of the Annual Report on plant performance  Overview of construction issues associated with the old ponds  Pond sludge removal  Additional irrigation options  To provide an update on progress with the project and the timeline for the coming year  To provide neighbours with an opportunity to raise any issues they may have and for appropriate people from within the project team to answer questions

 New pond construction complete.  New border strips planted shortly with any settlement to be corrected when earthen borders are constructed.  50,000m³ sludge dewatered, desludged and landfilled versus an estimate of 36,600m³.  Up to 15,000m³ sludge remains in Ponds 2, 3 & 3A.  Exploring alternative options for sludge management.  Determine options for additional land disposal.

For the 2014/15 monitoring period, the following was noted:  The discharged flows complied with the consent requirements on all occasions.  The quality of the discharge complied with the consent conditions.  Telemetry for providing treatment plant flow data to the Regional Council’s Data Management System was not commissioned for a month after the consent date because of time taken to clarify GWRC time and date format system requirements.  The effects of discharges of treated wastewater on aquatic life in the Ruamahanga River are expected to reduce once the full land disposal system is commissioned with discharges only at higher river flows.

Direct Discharge Stopped

New Discharge Commissioned

Irrigation Started Note: graphs exclude readings for sites HB11 and BP34/0047 as their readings were below detection limits.

Irrigation Started Note: graphs exclude readings for sites HB11, BP34/0047 and BP34/0049 as their readings are below detection limits.

Irrigation Started Note: the graph excludes readings for sites HB16, HB21, HB13, BP34/0047, BP34/0048 and BP34/0049 as their readings are below the detection limits.

Soil Monitoring – Total Nitrogen

Ruamahanga River Environmental Monitor Data QMCI Decreases DateRU1RU2/RU1RD2 RU2/RD1RD2 *4/03/ /11/ /03/ /01/ /03/ Average Decrease 2.2 * sample taken before diffuser commissioned

Land Discharge Requirements Border Strip Maximum Application Depth ParameterValue Irrigation Volume (m 3 ) 491,560m³ Irrigation Area (ha) 56.4 Average Irrigation Depth (mm) 872 Maximum Depth Recorded (mm) Border Strip J9-4 on 29/03/15 79

Average Daily Summer Application Rates ParameterValue Irrigation Volume (m 3 ) 491,560m³ Irrigation Area (ha) 56.4 Irrigation Period (days) 181 Rainfall Over Period (mm) 402 Average Irrigation Depth Per (mm) 4.8 Average Rainfall Per Day (mm) 2.2 Average Daily Application Rate Including Rainfall (mm) 7.0

 Summer of 2014/2015 average application rate was 7.0 mm (compared to 4.9 mm in 2013/14)  Consent maximum 10 mm (average)  Increased application rate due to: improvements in soil structure with tillering of roots ripping to relieve compaction better understanding of pastures a dry summer  Expectation is that irrigation rates rate will continue to increase with with improving pastures and soil structure.  All Balage sold with half of upcoming season pre-ordered. Border Strip Operation - Irrigation L-Zone Border Strips

 Options being discussed with stakeholders  Sludge is relatively inert and environmental impacts are likely to be minimal  It is well stabilised and contains less nutrients than expected.  Stakeholder support to manage the sludge onsite as a more cost effective option.  Options are to; use on border strips use on planted beds leave where it is Sludge Removal

 15 hectares of additional irrigation capacity required to make up for abandoned M-Zone border strips  Options being explored: constructed wetland in area of old ponds filtration/UV disinfection – a trial has been completed additional irrigation on Homebush dairy farm irrigation of adjacent farms  Discussions with Iwi have been held to “rule-in-options”  Once Iwi have considered the implications of these options, further work will be done. Additional Irrigation Options

 All queries or concerns should be directed to MDC.  Calls/contact are logged and directed to David Hopman.  David discusses/actions with the appropriate parties.  Action is taken as appropriate, the call closed off and contact made with the person who contacted MDC.

Questions?