Pond emptied and closed off for $1.6m clean up

A Warkworth reserve and pond will remain closed off until early next year while Auckland Council removes a large build-up of silt and upgrades stormwater pipes.

The stormwater pond at the southern end of Alnwick Street has been fenced off since August for a $1.6 million-operation to empty the pond, remove the sediment and upgrade the adjoining pipe network, pond forebay and access tracks.

Head of strategy at stormwater arm Healthy Waters Andrew Chin said the pond, which was built in 2007, provided stormwater management for that end of Alnwick Street and the surrounding Jade River area.

“Regular desilting is essential work for all stormwater ponds,” he said. “While we’re doing this, we’re also upgrading the stormwater pipes going into the pond from the nearby residential properties.

“There have been issues identified with the stormwater network and we’re taking this opportunity to have them addressed.”

Chin said the work, which is consented to take place six days a week from 7.30am to 6pm, was expected to be finished by February.

“We’d like to thank the local community for their patience while we undertake these works,” he added.

Healthy Waters is responsible for maintaining more than 650 stormwater ponds throughout the Auckland region, including the periodic removal of sediment build-up.

Stormwater ponds are used for three main purposes – to reduce potential flooding, provide water treatment and to minimise downstream erosion.