Paihia sewage pipeline replacement begins

Work to replace the Paihia sewage pipeline from Central School car park pumping station in Williams Road to a gravity sewer in Davis Crescent off Marston Road is scheduled to begin at the end of this month.

The Far North District Council is replacing the 28 year-old asbestos cement pipes with polyethylene pipes as a matter of urgency because of the seriously deteriorated condition of the old rising main.

Utilities Manager Peter Johnson says the main is in a vulnerable location in the centre of Paihia and along the sea front and it is essential that it is replaced in full to minimise risk to the environment.

“The council has decided to advance the work with all speed because of the sensitivity of the pipeline’s location,” he said.

The $1.1million contract has been awarded to Fulton Hogan Ltd and is expected to be finished in mid-November with a short break over Labour weekend to minimise disruption to holidaymakers.

Traffic control will be needed during the first stage of the project in Marston Road and around the Bluff and stop/go operators will be used in preference to fixed-time traffic lights which can compound traffic delays.

Construction will be restricted to working hours with the works being backfilled at the end of the day to allow two-way traffic before and after work.

“Despite our best efforts, there will be some disruption to residents, visitors and commercial activities in Paihia while the work is done,” Mr Johnson said. “The contractor will contact people directly affected by the works and keep them informed on an ongoing basis.”

As with the Waitangi pipeline replacement project, a liaison team comprising council, contractor, community board, iwi, Northland DHB and Northland Regional Council representatives will meet regularly throughout the project as a means of keeping key agencies informed.

Because the works may affect unrecorded archaeological sites, the Historic Places Trust has been notified and has recommended conditions, including monitoring of the excavation work.