Whanganui District Council's $70 million claim against the designer of its failed wastewater treatment plant goes to mediation today.
Deputy mayor Hamish McDouall said the council was trying to recover the costs of the failed plant, and the cost of designing and building a new one that worked.
The plant cost $15 million to build in 2007, but it was closed in 2013 because foul smells had begun drifting across the city in late 2012.
Construction of a new plant costing $38 million is due to begin in 2018.
Mr McDouall said he was confident both parties intended to settle the dispute.
The mediation is set down for two days.
