The opening ceremony for Omāroro Reservoir took place today, with the site at Prince of Wales Park in Mount Cook being handed back to Wellington City Council and the public.
Mayor, Tory Whanau says she is delighted the area has been reopened for the public.
“I’m pleased to be here to mark the official opening of such an important asset for our city, and to re-open the area to the public,” she said.
“The project team have done a great job recreating an attractive space for people to walk, next to the newly planted native shrubs and trees covering the reservoir, and play sports on the two upgraded sports fields just below.
“The Omāroro Reservoir provides a significant increase in water storage for Wellington City. In the event supply pipes are disrupted, the reservoir will ensure 48 hours supply of drinking water, playing a key role in increasing the city’s resilience.”
The ceremony was attended by Wellington Water staff, alongside key project stakeholders including Wellington City Council, elected officials, HEB Construction, Beca, and Holmes Consulting.
The 35 million litre storage facility has doubled the water storage capacity for Wellington’s CBD. It’s one of the few buried reservoirs in New Zealand and is built to withstand a 1-in-5,000-year earthquake. It serves 70,000 residents in central Wellington, Thorndon, Newtown, Mount Cook, Hataitai, Kilbirnie, Miramar, Strathmore and Seatoun, including Wellington Hospital.
This $70 million project was delivered on time and within the approved budget, with the reservoir put into service one year ahead of schedule, in December 2022.
