The transformation of part of the wastewater treatment site in Cambridge into a cutting-edge sustainability hub is officially underway, marking a major milestone in the Waipā District’s green future.
The new resource recovery centre will offer a convenient place for people to drop off recyclable materials, purchase repurposed items and play an active role in minimising waste.
In February, GHD Consultants were brought on board to design the essential infrastructure on the Matos Segedin Drive site which is no longer needed for the wastewater treatment processes – everything from earthworks and underground services to roads and stormwater management.
The preliminary design will be available for council review before the end of the month, and construction is set to kick off in July or August this year.
Transport manager Bryan Hudson said it was important to maintain momentum on the project. “While the infrastructure design takes shape, we’re keeping the energy high for the resource recovery centre proposal.”
To get a better understanding of how these centres can work, council staff and community group representatives took a hands-on approach and visited three resource recovery sites in Auckland recently.
"Our road trip provided a behind-the-scenes look at operations and valuable insights from the people on the ground doing the mahi,” said Hudson.
“It has really set the stage for our next steps.”
To ensure the facility was designed with the community in mind, the council reached out to local groups including Lions and Urban Miners to get their feedback.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for the Cambridge community to work together and really make a difference to the environment.”
Alongside the resource recovery centre, the site will feature a new purpose-built animal shelter to replace the current dog pound as well as a new Park Operations depot. The Cambridge Transfer Station, operated by Environ NZ, is expected to continue to operate at its current location.
