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The Warkworth to Snells Beach wastewater pipeline project is entering its Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) phase and to celebrate, Watercare is hosting an open day at Dawson Road Reserve, next to Snells Beach Primary School, on Wednesday, June 14, from 10am to 2pm.
A Watercare spokesperson says the open day will be an opportunity for the community to see Piper, the TBM, before she dives headfirst underground.
The machine will reach depths varying between five and 61 metres to construct the five kilometre wastewater pipeline between the Snells Beach wastewater treatment plant and Lucy Moore Park wastewater pump station.
The pipeline and the construction of the Lucy Moore Park pump station are core projects in Watercare’s $300-plus million infrastructure upgrade for the Snells Beach and Warkworth area.
Watercare senior project manager Dirk du Plessis says the pump station and treatment plant will play a key role in sustaining regional development, population growth and safeguarding the environment.
“Apart from meeting Piper, and perhaps getting a selfie, the open day will give people the opportunity to learn more about the work Watercare has going on in the area,” Du Plessis says.
He adds that Piper – named Starlight Piper by pupils at Snells Beach School in 2020 – has been steadily drilling tunnels from Snells Beach to Algies Bay for the last three years supervised by contractor McConnell Dowell.
The pipeline between Warkworth and Snells Beach is expected to take about 16 months to complete, and involves drilling and pulling the pipeline’s 423 steel pipes, weighing around 7.5 tonnes each, into place.
“Overall, the project is on track to be completed in early 2025.”
The open day will include free barista-made coffee and a sausage sizzle.
