Residents of Manapōuri now have a water supply designed to serve them for decades after Southland District Council opened a new treatment plant today.
The $3.6 million facility sits beside the township’s original 1969 plant and steel tower, both of which were nearing the end of their lives. Built by lead contractor Fulton Hogan, with Murray Wallace Electrical handling mechanical and electrical work, the project broke ground in 2024 and was fully commissioned in March this year.
Filtration and pH correction units bring the supply in line with the latest national drinking-water rules. A pair of larger pumps, supported by a standby generator, lift fire-fighting capacity and ensure water keeps flowing during power cuts. Extra floor area and pipework have also been set aside so the plant can be extended if population growth or tighter standards demand it.
Southland Mayor Rob Scott, together with councillors, chief executive Cameron McIntosh and members of the Fiordland Community Board, cut the ribbon at a brief ceremony this morning.
“It is always a proud moment when projects of this calibre come to fruition. This showcases we are very capable of delivering infrastructure and water services to Southlanders,” he said.
Mr Scott noted that the build fits the council’s decision to keep ownership and day-to-day control of its three-waters network under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms. Under the adjusted status quo model councils must still meet new regulation but retain responsibility for planning and spending.
“The ability of the locals to have direct input into what’s happening in their own backyard and working in collaboration with Council is incredibly important and we’ve proven in the Fiordland area through projects like this it is a priority for us.
“While managed by Council, these assets are owned by the communities they serve and, together with the Fiordland Community Board, the residents of Manapōuri should be proud of what’s been achieved. We are building for the future.”
Councillor Sarah Greaney said lessons learned at Manapōuri would inform upgrades across the district. Council staff will now decommission the ageing tower once the new plant has run through its post-commissioning trial period.