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The demolition of Waiwera Thermal Resort, which began five months ago, caused a number of residents to contact Hibiscus Matters last month, concerned about dust and possible contaminants circulating in the air.
Waiwera Residents Association sought urgent action from Auckland Council’s Environmental Monitoring Unit.
The work has gone on far longer than planned, with property owners Urban Partners saying that this is due to the discovery of much more concrete than anticipated – with slabs on top of slabs needing to be removed.
In response to the complaints, Urban Partners emailed residents saying health and safety is its top priority. The company said that asbestos containing materials (ACM) were found but not of the type that require air monitoring.
“Regardless, we are carrying out air monitoring whenever ACM is being dealt with or concrete is being crushed. To date, the results have all been clear. With good management, we expect that that will continue to be the case,” the email said.
Measures were also taken to reduce dust, including some required by a Council environmental officer who visited the site.
One Waiwera resident told the paper that it’s a shame locals had to “kick up a fuss” to get any action and that Council must continue to monitor for compliance until the job is completed.
Work on site recommenced last week, after the Christmas break, with an estimated two weeks of demolition remaining.
Project plans advance
Plans to build a new wastewater pump station, wastewater pipeline and watermain in Waiwera moved ahead this month when Watercare contractors began geotech ground surveys in the area. From early January to late February, survey work is taking place within the road corridor, berms and reserves along Weranui Road, Hibiscus Coast Highway and Twin Coast Discovery Highway, Watercare major projects design delivery manager Nolwenn Lagadec said. “Our work as part of these ground surveys includes borehole groundwater testing and monitoring, as well as soil testing to test for contaminated land and potholing,” he said, adding that the surveys were a vital part of the investigation process. The Waiwera water and wastewater servicing project aims to increase capacity and ensure that the wastewater network keeps up with projected population growth in Waiwera, Hatfields Beach and surrounding suburbs. A new wastewater pump station will be constructed at the treatment plant on Weranui Road, west of the village, along with a rising and gravity main pipeline to transport wastewater to the Hatfields Beach pump station. From there it will be pumped to the wastewater treatment plant at Army Bay. Watercare also plans to build a new watermain, connecting into the existing Waiwera water reservoirs. “Once complete, this project will provide additional capacity ensuring that the water and wastewater network is able to keep up with population growth,” Lagadec said. People in the area may see contractors hand digging and using vacuum trucks, drilling rigs used to collect core samples, as well as supporting vehicles. Although the investigations will cause some noise and traffic disruption, Watercare says it’s unlikely that access to private property will be needed. If required, however, it will contact property owners in advance to arrange a suitable day and time to carry out the work. The design stage of the project is expected to be finalised by August 2025, and construction completed in 2027.
