Planning a Resilient Wastewater System: From Beginning to End

Tauranga is a medium sized coastal city of 141,000 people, located in the fast-growing Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. The city is served by two wastewater treatment plants, which are unusual in that they are connected at both the beginning and end of the trunk collection and conveyance system. The treatment plants are located at sea level and are subject to coastal and seismic hazards. Significant upgrades are required in the short, medium and long term to accommodate population growth and improve resilience to natural hazards and the effects of climate change. Tauranga City Council and Beca have worked together over the past five years to plan, design and construct wastewater upgrades to cater for growth and improve operational and natural hazard resilience. This paper describes how staged planning for operational and natural hazard resilience has led to better community outcomes for the Tauranga community.