The idea for the $2.99 million project came about because the Frankton Beach wastewater pump station on the Wakatipu lakefront requires major renovations and cannot go offline for more than an hour without the risk of water contamination - "a failure to pump from this site will quickly lead to overflows into the lake, with serious environmental consequences", a report tabled by council project manager Lane Vermaas at yesterday's infrastructure services committee meeting said.
Council infrastructure services general manager Mark Kunath said the new pump would not only lessen the risk of pollution but would also give additional capacity and "accommodate future growth in the area".
"We've got the severe problem of taking the existing station offline," he said.
Standby power would be installed for both pumps; "this will eliminate the high risk factor currently present as the two pump stations will be able to function independently or together," the report said.
"The capacity of this standby generator will be such that it can power one of the two pump stations in case of a power outage."
Because of the dual-pump design, excess wastewater and emergency failure storage will not be needed. However, the report recommends connections be provided for future construction of storage, "with the possible requirement of more regulated constant flows to the proposed future new wastewater treatment plant in mind if so required".
Construction costs of $1,377,945 have been allocated in the 2010-11 annual plan and $1,669,698 in the 2011-12 council community plan.
It has been recommended construction start this winter, when the lake level is lowest.
On completion, each station would be able to handle the current 2011 peak wet-weather flows individually - together, they could absorb estimated peak flows until 2056.
