Watercare open day offers behind-the-scenes look at $95 million water infrastructure upgrade

Next month Aucklanders will have the opportunity to meet the teams and see the machines behind Watercare’s $95 million water infrastructure upgrades in central Auckland.

The Ōwairaka and Wesley Community Day is a free community event taking place on Saturday 6 December, from 10am to 2pm at Ōwairaka District School, 113/115 Richardson Road.

The work Watercare is delivering in the Ōwairaka and Wesley areas will help to support future growth and improve resilience in the network.

Watercare project manager Peter Kukulsky says this programme of work includes the new Akarana Booster Pump Station and Waikōwhai Watermain, which have already been completed, and major watermain upgrades currently underway in Ōwairaka and Wesley.

“All three projects will strengthen resilience in the water network and increase capacity to support new housing in these sought-after communities.

“The open day comes at a pivotal moment, as our crews wrap up planting of 547 native plants on Ōwairaka /Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura/Mt Albert.

“These trees are being planted directly above a 26-metre watermain installed into the cliff face of the maunga to replace previous plant species with native plants, which has an incline of around 45 degrees.

This native plant is above a 26-metre watermain

“This critical piece of infrastructure will carry water from the reservoir at the top of the mountain to an upgraded network connection recently completed in La Veta Avenue.

“Crews are also nearing completion of key sections of the watermain upgrades on Memorial Avenue in Mt Roskill.”

Kukulsky says the open day is a great opportunity for locals to meet the teams behind the work and get up close with some of the machinery used to install 4.2 kilometres of new pipeline.

“We’re excited to welcome the community, share what we’ve achieved, and continue the conversation about the future of water services in central Auckland.

“There’ll be free barista coffee, a sausage sizzle and ice cream, and visitors can explore our new Wonder Wai Discovery Centre.

“Wonder Wai takes you on a journey through the water cycle, from sky to sea, with lots of touchscreen games and augmented reality experiences that really bring it to life. It’s lots of fun for people of all ages.”

The Akarana Booster Pump Station and the Waikōwhai Watermain will be brought into service mid next year, at the same time as the watermain upgrades in Ōwairaka and Wesley.