Duration: 2024-2027

Location: Warkworth

Status: Design

The latest

We have confirmed a solution for our planned growth pipeline through Warkworth’s town centre that keeps disruption to a minimum and has the support of local business association One Mahurangi. Our Board of Directors approved the recommendation from management at its meeting in December 2024.

While the full growth servicing pipeline will eventually run north and south to connect future developments to the new Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, our team is prioritising the Elizabeth Street upgrade via temporary connection to existing infrastructure in Queen Street. This early connection to the Lucy Moore pump station is expected to be operational by December 2026—two years earlier than originally planned. The remaining sections will now be installed by December 2027 thanks to further efficiencies being identified.

Project overview

The growth servicing pipeline is an incredibly important piece of infrastructure that not only supports new housing north of the Mahurangi River, but will significantly reduce the number of wet weather overflows into the river (and therefore the harbour). It will run from the Warkworth Showgrounds through the town centre and connect to the recently-built Lucy Moore Pump Station. It is a critical piece in the puzzle of our $450m+ Warkworth wastewater scheme that completely overhauls how the community’s wastewater is transported and treated.

The works

How will it be built?

Our preferred solution involves mostly trenchless construction through micro-tunnelling. A fully trenchless option was not possible, largely due to the topography of the land and the location of other services. Given this, we will need to install the pipe with open-trenching along Elizabeth Street and through Lucy Moore Memorial Reserve to the new pump station.

Several shafts will need to be built in the town centre to enable micro-tunnelling.

This route and methodology meets our needs in terms of our ability to maintain and operate the pipe in the long term, as well as the cost and consenting considerations

The proposed route

• Trenchless from the Warkworth Showgrounds to south side of Hill Street intersection

• Open trenching along Elizabeth Street to the Mahurangi River bridge

• Pipe crossing along the bridge over the Mahurangi River

• Trenchless installation along Queen Street/Baxter Street to Lucy Moore Memorial Park

• Open trench installation from Lucy Moore Memorial Park to the new Lucy Moore Pump Station

Timeline

We expect design and consenting to take a year. Once more information becomes available we will share it with the wider community. The pipeline is now expected to be in service in 2027.