| 19 Porirua City Council REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Kelly Deeks Received extremely competitive tenders The current work focuses on constructing a new disposal cell, or ‘bowl’, which will hold the city’s waste from 2027 to 2030. Construction is now underway at Spicer Landfill in Porirua, marking a pivotal step in ensuring waste disposal for the Wellington region for the next five years. The $10.5 million development is not only essential for maintaining landfill capacity, but also forms part of a larger strategy to ensure long-term environmental and economic resilience. Porirua City Council water and waste manager David Down says the timing of the project couldn’t be better. “We’re fortunate to be delivering this work during a quieter period in the construction industry,” he says. “We received extremely competitive tenders, which means we’re currently tracking around $2 million under budget. That’s a significant win.” The current work focuses on constructing a new disposal cell, or ‘bowl’, which will hold the city’s waste from 2027 to 2030. With the contractor already completing a large sediment pond to manage stormwater runoff, groundwork has now begun in earnest. The two-year project also includes the building of a ring road early on to streamline traffic and operations within the site. Beyond the engineering feat lies a larger concern - space. Spicer Landfill is filling up faster than expected and the current cell will be running out of space by 2027. With regional waste continuing to grow, the pressure is on to secure waste disposal for the future. The landfill currently generates an estimated $300,000 per week in revenue, services one quarter of the Wellington region’s waste, and plays a crucial role in the wider waste ecosystem. “If Spicer Landfill were to shut down, the impact would ripple across the entire region,” David says. “Neither Wellington nor Hutt City’s landfills can absorb our volume. Costs would skyrocket, and we’d be looking at serious disruption to services and price increases for households.” Officials are now exploring a regional solution beyond 2035, in partnership with neighbouring councils and commercial waste operators. “We’re asking, what is the best, most sustainable way to manage residual waste for the city?” In assessing alternatives, Porirua City Council used three key objectives: maintain reliable and affordable waste services, minimise environmental impacts, and ensure resilience in case of natural disasters. Spicer Landfill, which also includes facilities for recycling and green waste, remains vital infrastructure, not just for disposal, but as part of the city’s broader move toward a low-carbon, circular economy. Construction at Spicer Landfill is expected to continue through to mid-2026. While the landfill will remain open, there are temporary changes for the public, including speed restrictions and relocated drop-off points. David says Porirua City Council took some lessons from the 2020 construction of the current disposal cell, including delays caused by lockdowns and unexpected infrastructure conflicts. “This time, we’ve been able to plan properly and execute with confidence,” he says. “It’s critical infrastructure work that may not be so glamorous, but it affects every household and business in our city.” “It’s critical infrastructure work that may not be so glamorous, but it affects every household and business in our city.” Bullock Contracting Ltd - trusted provider since 1960 Working in the greater Wellington Region Earthworks | Subdivision | Drainage | Retaining Walls Roading | Landscaping | Cartage | Recycling | Fleet 021 430 724 | admin@bullocks.co.nz | 8a Kinleith Grove, Kenepuru, Porirua | Follow us
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