Consent for the township’s existing, problematic wastewater treatment plant runs out in November 2022.
However, as yet there is no confirmed route for the council’s proposed alternative, a pipeline of almost 20km to the council’s Project Pure treatment plant at Wanaka Airport.
As well, Project Pure itself needs to be expanded before Lake Hawea sewage can be added.
Communications and marketing adviser Jack Barlow said recently “timing for a solution is becoming increasingly constrained".
While the council has declined to provide details of the options, Mr Barlow confirmed a pipeline across the Clutha River is on the cards.
"Potential alignments may include following established roads and river crossings, or taking a more direct southern route — either via paper roads or easements through private property — which would cross the Clutha River somewhere north to northeast of Wanaka Airport."
Lake Hawea Community Association chairwoman Cherilyn Walthew described the proposed system as "a little bit ridiculous".
"I can’t believe we are talking about pumping [effluent] that far.
"It’s the sort of infrastructure you might see in a city, but we don’t have a city to fund that sort of infrastructure."
Ms Walthew said there were people in Hawea keen to install compostable toilets and the council was making it "incredibly hard" to do so.
Mr Barlow said there was an option of a "localised treatment solution" but provided no detail.
More information could be available at the end of June.
In March 2019, a council spokeswoman told the Otago Daily Times planning was in the early stages and construction was scheduled to begin this year.
In January this year, Mr Barlow said "subject to completion of design in 2020, and construction in 2021" the upgraded plant was "tentatively scheduled" to be operating by the start of 2022.
“Optimistically, we may be able to commence pipeline construction in the final quarter of this calendar year.
"This commencement date is very much at risk until land easement agreements are secured."
The council has engaged APL Property to negotiate easements along a "feasible route’.
One Hawea Flat resident has already expressed his lack of enthusiasm for having the pipeline pass through his property.
If the new system is not completed in time, the council will need to obtain a new resource consent from the Otago Regional Council to continue using its Hawea plant.
ORC general manager regulatory Richard Saunders said the ORC would work with the district council to ensure a suitable plan was in place for Hawea.
