Rob Burchell from Watercare. Programme director of WW Growth Servicing Team
From my notes and refer to slide presentations below and on our website.
- Rob gave us an overview of his worldwide experience of water projects. He was on the build teams for Mangere and Waikato plants. Happy to be back in NZ
- Have we noticed?? The cones and the 50Km limit have now been removed from the Hamilton Road works entrance. This part of the project has been finished. The storage of pipes at Dawson Road Reserve is no longer needed and there is a big reduction in the heavy traffic from Hamatana Road.
- Watercare is planning some open days for the community before Xmas – a chance to look thru the plant before opening.
- The Snells Beach plant will be in the top 3 of wastewater plants in NZ . An advanced wastewater system.
- Stage 1 – built to manage 18,000 population. Built to cope with 4,850,00 litres or 800,000 toilet flushes
- Stage 2 – 30,000 population, probably needed after 2035. However the capacity has already been built into this initial project. So can be opened up earlier if needed.
- External Storage ponds are no longer needed – so no smells. The new technology of membranes have a life span of 20yrs and replacement is not a major project.
- The gravity line has plenty of capacity now, but the pumping line – from WW, may need expansion in the future – but this has been built into the vision.
- Watercare has been in contact with Meg from Coastal Paths – the cycleway. Have offered surplus pipes, gravel and other material that will be used in completing our cycleway projects.
- No firm date as yet, as to when our Hamatana cycleway entrance will be re-opened. However a path will be formed from the Hamatana Carpark below the bowling club to link Te Whau walkway to Hamatana Cycleway entrance.
- The Dawson Road storage area and the Te Whau wastewater pipeline are being de-commissioned. The storage ponds will also be de-commissioned – plans not finalised as yet.
New Wastewater project in Snells Beach. The Snells Beach / Algies Bay Saline Intrusion Project.
- A wastewater pipeline runs along the waterfronts of Snells & Algies.
- Investigations of this pipeline is happening now. You may see hi-vis workers on our beaches.
- Project is to replace the 48 manholes (see Slides) and ensure the pipes are in good condition by relining them.
- This technology is very common in Europe but it is the first time used in NZ
The Watercare Website also gives an update on the work being carried out in Warkworth