Fixing Up The Foreshore Sewer
May 12, 2004

North Shore City Council is about to start the second stage of repair work to the main trunk sewer around the foreshore between Mairangi Bay and Campbells Bay.

Wave action had begun to damage the half metre diameter pipe and its protective concrete casing. The pipe takes raw sewage to the Rosedale wastewater treatment plant.

North Shore City works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says the sooner the last stretch of the pipe is repaired, the better.

"Project CARE makes beach water quality a priority, and upgrading our infrastructure and improving the performance of our pipes will reduce harmful effects," he says.

Stage one of the work, which saw 400m of the pipe from Murrays Bay to Mairangi Bay repaired at a cost of $1.1m, was finished in November 2003.

Councillor Cayford says the entire pipe is being encased in a specially coloured protective concrete shell that has been sculpted to look natural and match the surrounding landscape.

"The problem with the pipe cracking was highlighted in 2001 when large easterly swells rolled in as a result of Cyclone Sose. We took action immediately to prevent further damage," he says. Stage two of the foreshore sewer repair will be done in two sections during the winter months of this year and 2005.

Work on the first section of the second stage, the 350m stretch from the southern end of Mairangi Bay towards Campbells Bay, starts this Monday, May 17. It is expected to take until December 2004 to complete.

Joel Cayford says work on the sewer will be carried out from Monday to Saturday, but the hours will be restricted by high tide and wet weather.

"To maintain public health and safety, we'll close the section of sewer under repair to walkers. Signs will indicate any detours.

"We regret the inconvenience but are sure residents will understand the need for the work and the safety precautions we're taking," he says.

The second stage of the sewer repair will cost $1.5m - $1m for the 350m section being done now, and $500,000 for the final 150m, scheduled next year.

(ends)

© Scoop Media