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It’s been confirmed that a wastewater pipeline from Warkworth Showgrounds to Lucy Moore Park will go through the main town centre.
At a Watercare meeting in Auckland this morning, the Board of Directors accepted a recommendation to proceed with the original pipeline alignment along Elizabeth, Queen and Baxter Streets, despite massive objections from Rodney Local Board, One Mahurangi and businesses.
The only concession Watercare has made is to say it will “maximise trenchless construction” between Queen Street and Baxter Street. The project will involve:
- An open trench from Hill Street intersection to the bridge
- A pipe bridge over Mahurangi River
- Pipe jack (or trenchless) construction along Queen Street and Baxter Street
- An open trench to Lucy Moore pump station.
One Mahurangi co-chair Dave Stott says the decision is “as good as we could have got”.
“Our team of engineers looked at a number of options including under the bowling club and along the river, but the technical and servicing issues meant that they weren’t really feasible,” he says.
“In the end I don’t think there were any better options. Once we had agreement about tunnelling, this was always going to be the best option.”
One Mahurangi manager Murray Chapman went one step further to tell the Board “it could not have been a better Christmas present for the town”.
He thanked Watercare for the concession [of trenchless tunnelling].
“We always knew the pipeline had to go through, it was just the methodology.”
The next stage will be to publicly notify the alignment and undertake detailed design and resource consent work, which is expected to take about a year.
It isn’t yet known how disruptive the pipeline project will be.
Stott says One Mahurangi has been told that the tunnelling option will take considerably less time than the trenching option.
“We will be asking for more information, likewise for any disruption that may occur from the pilot pits at Kapanui and Elizabeth Street corners.
“We still have to do quite a lot of work regarding Elizabeth Street. Watercare has undertaken to talk to each business owner and work out the best construction methodology to minimise impact.
“This may involve working at night, only opening up short sections of road at a time and using plates over the trenches during the day. We will be working very closely with Watercare and the business owners to minimise their disruption.”
Watercare says this programme of works will reduce wastewater discharges to the environment, improve environmental compliance, and enable growth in the Warkworth area. The target is to have the pipeline commissioned in 2028.
Related stories:
MM November 11, 2024 – Warkworth wastewater pipeline route uncertainty continues
MM September 30, 2024 – Pipeline options workshopped with Watercare
MM August 19, 2024 – Trenching idea hits roadblock
MM July 22, 2024 – Stay of execution on Warkworth sewer pipeline route
MM July 10, 2024 – Call for Watercare protest
MM June 24, 2024 – Watercare slammed over proposed Warkworth pipeline route
MM June 10, 2024 – Traders plead for Watercare pipeline review
MM May 27, 2024 – Watercare pipeline decision prompts retailer rebellion
MM May 13, 2024 – 12 months hard labour
MM April 29, 2024 – Warkworth growth outpaces wastewater network
MM February 19, 2024 – Wastewater pipeline concerns
MM December 19, 2022 – Watercare in hot water over pipeline route
