Watercare is carrying out a $1.5 million project in Murrays Bay to permanently repair damage caused to the local wastewater network caused by the Auckland Anniversary Floods.
The repairs around Penguin Reserve will see the removal of a temporary bypass, pump and generator behind Dalmeny Close, and extensive gravity bypasses behind Penguin Drive.
To install the permanent repairs at Penguin Reserve, Watercare is using HDD Drilling and micro tunnelling techniques.
Temporary pump and generator bypasses were installed across seven neighbourhoods in Auckland after the Auckland Anniversary and Cyclone Gabrielle flooding in early 2023, with dozens more temporary gravity bypasses in isolated areas to maintain essential wastewater services.
These temporary measures protected public health and the environment, while giving Watercare and its contractors the time needed to design and implement permanent, more resilient solutions that would strengthen Auckland’s wastewater network.
Watercare capital delivery general manager, Suzanne Lucas says the intensity of the storms caused numerous landslips, some of which took out watermains and wastewater infrastructure across the region.
“They caused an enormous amount of damage to our networks – particularly to the wastewater network in hilly areas of Auckland in the north and west, and the infrastructure in our western dam catchments.
“Now, two years and five months later, we are nearing the home stretch of our $80 million flood recovery programme, with many of the permanent solutions across Auckland now installed.”
Watercare construction delivery manager, Johan Gerritsen says the permanent solution at Penguin Reserve involves installing wastewater pipelines within the crown of the reserve.
“One pipeline will stretch 100 metres between Dalmeny Close and East Coast Road, and the other will run 98 metres from Penguin Reserve Entrance on Penguin Drive to Bellbird Rise.
“We will also be installing a 40 metre pipeline to permanently reconnect a homeowner back to the network after being disconnected following the floods.
“These new wastewater lines will replace the temporary repairs that were installed after landslips destroyed the original infrastructure.
“Through an extensive investigation and design period we were able to find a solution that moves the assets away from flood-damaged areas and remediate an area of the network that’s needed a lot of maintenance in the past.”
Mr Gerritsen says to reduce environmental impact of the work and to protect the pipelines, they’re being installed using horizontal directional drilling and micro tunnelling.
“These methods allow for both pipelines to be installed at depths between two and eight metres in the valley reserve, where the ground is more stable and better protected from slips. It also helps to minimise impacts to homeowners, surrounding properties and native vegetation.
“Since Penguin Reserve is a significant ecological area, we are collaborating with an arborist, our environmental team, and Auckland Council’s community facilities team to ensure our work has minimal impact on the environment.
“Once the permanent repairs are completed, we will remove the temporary fixes from the reserve and coordinate with Auckland Council to replant native trees and restore walkways damaged by the 2023 storms.”
Mr Gerritsen thanked Aucklanders for their patience as Watercare and its contractors deliver and install permanent fixes in communities around Auckland.
“Many people who have been relying on the temporary infrastructure have faced incredibly stressful situations, so it is very rewarding to be able to provide these permanent solutions.”
