The proposed Redmond Wetlands Complex is inching forward and will be heading to a land-use hearing with Deschutes County on June 20 with an opportunity for public comment.

The hearing will be at 6 p.m. and can be found online at the Deschutes County website.

The $70 million complex aims to replace the current mechanical wastewater treatment system that will hit capacity in the next three to five years.

Instead of chemical and microbial treatment, the wetlands complex will use a natural system to treat wastewater such as from showers, toilets and sinks.

Based on Prineville’s Crooked River Wetlands Complex, the Redmond complex will feature a 90-acre wetland habitat and a park system that will include four miles of paved and gravel trails, educational kiosks, picnic areas and shelters.

However, the park comes secondary to the expansion of the city’s treatment plans as time clicks down and the sewer system gets closer to capacity. According to Ryan Kirchner, Redmond wastewater division manager, the park system is a “huge benefit” to the project and a second application will be filed once more progress is made.

“Obviously the city’s priority is the treatment plant and the need to expand it,” Kirchner said. “We need to get a new plant before we’re at capacity.”

After the hearing, Kirchner said the next phase would be for the application to go to the Deschutes County Commission for a vote.

Kirchner expects the new facility to be operational at the beginning of 2026 and will be looking to discuss what to do with the old facilities located at the end of the Dry Canyon.