Partially treated wastewater discharge - Buller River 29-31 August 2025

Attention all whitebaiters and Buller River users:

Due to a mechanical breakdown at the Westport Wastewater Treatment Plant, Buller District Council will be discharging partially treated wastewater into the Buller River at the Buller Bridge on the outgoing afternoon tides this coming:

Friday 29 August
Saturday 30 August
Sunday 31 August 2025.

Council advises all water users to avoid recreational water activities for 48 hours following these discharges. 

Food gathering, including whitebaiting, should be avoided in affected rivers and lagoons.

Council strongly advises members of the public to not enter or come into contact with water below the Buller Bridge until Wednesday 3 September 2025.

The West Coast Regional Council has been notified of the situation and has advised this discharge can proceed in accordance with Section 330 of the Resource Management Act (RMA).

We appreciate this will impact the beginning of the whitebait season.

If you have any queries, please contact Council on 0800 807 239 or email info@bdc.govt.nz with the subject line 'Wastewater discharge'.