PREPARATION for the next stage of Taumarunui underground infrastructure are well advanced with the Bell Rd PVC water main welded together and ready for installation. PHOTO SUPPLIED.
RUAPEHU District Council is claiming good progress on renewing Taumarunui’s underground water infrastructure.
District-wide, the council budgeted $13.2 million for the 2022/23 financial year on Three Waters capital works covering drinking, storm and wastewater and $7.6m in 2023/24.
The investment was part of the council’s strategy to have as much of the network fully compliant with required standards before services are transferred to the new multi-regional entity in July 2024.
Council staff had been working with the National Transitional Unit to ensure a smooth transition of Three Waters operations from the council to the entity, executive manager infrastructure Vini Dutra said.
Replacement of water mains in Golf Rd and Rangaroa Rd and preparations for installing the new Bell Rd and Hakiaha St mains were well advanced.
The work was part of a township-wide redesign and renewal of underground water infrastructure aimed at dramatically improving the resilience of Taumarunui’s water network, Vini said.
“In recent years, this included the renewal of water mains on Hospital Hill, Rangaroa Rd and Simmons Rd and the relining of the Hakiaha St storm and wastewater piping.
“The new year will see the installation of a new 450mm water main along Bell Rd and a water line under the railway yard before the renewal of the Hakiaha St water main. The Bell Rd main will be an independent trunk main from Matapuna reservoir to Rangaroa reservoir designed to ensure water supply if there is any pipe failure within the CBD area.”
Vini said, when finished, these works together with the new 1km, 180mm diameter ring main along Simmons Rd at the back of the golf course, would provide resilience of supply to Taumarunui.
“As with earlier water main renewals, contractors would be using directional drilling technology to install the new wielded HDPE (flexible plastic) piping to minimise disruption to the public,” he said.
The three waters capital works budgets also include provision for ongoing work on upgrades to the Ohakune Water Treatment Plant and wastewater network to enable future growth.
