Warkworth growth servicing pipeline

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 Warkworth Street 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.

Growth servicing pipeline update

Service relocations are now largely completed in Elizabeth and Queen Streets. Work on Elizabeth Street has started to install a pipeline across the bridge and connect into the Queen Street shaft. This programme is unfortunately being extended due to unforeseen ground conditions, undocumented underground services and service relocation works which clashed with the new sewer pipeline.

Trenching work from the bridge to the Brown Street intersection will now take place throughout the month of November. The one-way traffic flow on Elizabeth Street will remain in place until the work is completed. This will enable us to retain on-street carparks from the vet to the Bridgehouse Hotel, so there is plenty of parking for customers.

McConnell Dowell will set up the shaft work site at Kapanui Street from mid-October. This first set of construction work includes excavation and piling of an 8m x 4m-diameter shaft, 4m deep.

The site provides access for tunnelling, enables spoil to be removed and supports construction of the new wastewater pipeline. Once these works are completed in next April, the location will be reopened, leaving only a manhole so the new pipeline can be accessed for future maintenance.

To help keep pedestrians safe, fencing and scrim enclose the site. Local businesses including The 8.55 To Cairo and River View Plaza shops are all open for business.

Our contractor has also set up their site in Kōwhai Reserve and will begin work in Kōwhai Park on 21 October. At this time the dump station in the park will close. There is a new facility in Hamatana Road, Snell’s Beach.

We appreciate your patience throughout these important works.

View full sized map

Traffic management explained

Traffic management is one of the most obvious construction activities as it impacts pedestrians and road users in the Warkworth CBD. Our traffic management is organised in a staged approach to work best for our changing site activities. We do this while aiming to minimise the impact on businesses and residents as much as possible.

Once the sites have been fully set up, traffic controls will be more settled. These focus on keeping the public safe, directing traffic flow and truck movements and managing space constraints around our sites. At times, carparks will be coned off for use by our construction vehicles. We need to keep these areas clear at all times so we do not have to tow vehicles who may be blocking access.

Please follow all traffic signs and diversions. The traffic team is there to protect both the public and our workers, so please treat them with respect.

Network renewals

Our CCTV investigation work across the Warkworth wastewater network is progressing well. By mid-October our crews will complete inspections in the eastern and southern areas of Warkworth town, including sub-catchments 5, 6 and 7, as shown on the map below. Investigation work in the Melwood catchment has also been completed. Across the network, we’ve now relined 8.5 kilometres of wastewater pipes, with 192 manholes rehabilitated.

The remaining investigations in the Warkworth CBD area, including sub-catchments 1 and 2, are currently scheduled to begin in mid-October. This timing is subject to weather and operational requirements. Streets included in the investigation area will receive letterbox notifications before crews arrive.

While investigations are happening in your street, we recommend closing your toilet lid and placing a heavy weight on top as a precaution.

View full-sized map

Palmer Street pump station and rising main renewal

We are also planning renewal work at the Palmer Street wastewater pump station to help improve the resilience and performance of the local network. This includes upgrading the rising main along Whitaker Road from the pump station. These works will help reduce the number of wastewater overflows into the environment.

The rising main upgrade will involve installing a new pipe from the pump station along Whitaker Road and is currently scheduled for early/mid 2027. The pump station upgrade will include installing a new storage tank within the existing site and is currently scheduled from late 2027 onwards.

Before this work can begin, we need to complete potholing and geotechnical investigations to help us produce the best project design. These investigations are scheduled to start this mid/late October for approximately four weeks. Traffic management will be in place and notifications to residents and businesses will be sent once the dates are confirmed.

View full sized map

For further information  

If you’d like more general information about these works or have any questions, please email us at  [email protected]. Our project team is here to help and will respond as soon as possible.

Project map

Click to view the full-sized map