Infrastructure to improve estuary health and network resilience in Waiwera and Hatfields Beach

A major environmental milestone is underway at Waiwera, with a $45 million upgrade set to end all treated wastewater discharges into the Waiwera Estuary - a change expected to significantly improve water quality in one of the region’s most sensitive coastal environments.

The Waiwera water and wastewater upgrade is part of Watercare’s 10 year, $13.8 billion capital works programme (2025 – 2034) to increase network capacity and boost resilience across Auckland.

Watercare head of wastewater planning Andrew Deutschle says removing discharges is a transformational shift for the estuary.

“This work will eliminate treated wastewater discharges into the Waiwera Estuary entirely - a huge win for water quality and the local environment.

“To deliver this, we’re building a new wastewater pump station beside the existing Waiwera Wastewater Treatment Plant and installing a 4.5 kilometre pipeline that will connect the new pump station to the Hatfields Beach Pump Station.

“From there, wastewater will be pumped to the Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant for higher level treatment before being released through the Army Bay outfall.”

Once the new system is operational, the Waiwera Wastewater Treatment Plant will be decommissioned.

The wider programme also includes installing an 840 metre replacement watermain to improve reliability and futureproof the network for an expected 1,600 additional residents by 2068.

Watercare project manager Martin Hughes says construction is already progressing, with crews laying the first sections of the wastewater pipeline along Hibiscus Coast Highway and Weranui Road.

“These initial sections were installed using opencut trenching due to steep, winding terrain.

“Now that those sections are in, we can switch to horizontal directional drilling for most of the remaining pipework. It’s faster, less disruptive and more cost efficient than open trenching.

“Permanent lane closures - up to 500 metres in length - are currently in place on the northbound lane of Hibiscus Coast Highway, with two way traffic signals managing vehicles on the southbound lane.

“A shift into a wider work area from late February is expected to ease some congestion.”

Hughes says the team is also coordinating closely with Auckland Transport on repairs to slips near the work zone but remains confident in the timeline.

“The slips have created some minor disruption, however we will reschedule the construction of the new wastewater pipeline to accommodate the slip repairs.

“We’re still on track to deliver the wastewater and water upgrades by the end of the year.

The wastewater oxidation ponds at Waiwera Wastewater Treatment Plant