This project was successfully completed in late 2021.

In April 2021, work began to replace and upgrade the water main that runs along the Apanui School side of McAlister Street, from Domain Road to Beach Street.

The work included renewing all valves, hydrants, fittings, service lines, water meters, and connections to existing watermains.

This major infrastructure project will contribute to a reliable and safe water supply that is able to meet the needs of our growing town centre for the next 60 years.

Thursday 8 July, 2021: Project Halfway Point

We've reached the half-way point of the project and arguably the busiest section of the work.

Apanui School Community

To minimise disruption as best we can, work outside Apanui School has been programmed for the school holidays (12 - 26 July). Parents and caregivers should have received an update newsletter but if not, here it is.

View the important update for Apanui School community - (PDF, 540 KB)

The key information is that when school returns for next term, there will be some new traffic management in place around drop-off and pick-up.

View project area map with detailed information - (PDF, 760 KB)

Local residents, commuters and the wider community

• Starting next week, the footpath and carparks on the Apanui School side of McAlister Street will be progressively closed from Apanui Avenue to a new temporary pedestrian crossing near the intersection with Domain Road. The footpath will remain closed until the watermain work is finished and a new footpath is laid. This is expected to be at the end of September. We’ll keep you updated on how long car-parking will be affected.
• The closed footpath will be excavated to locate services, before drilling and pipe laying. This will minimise the potential for disruption to services (power, phone, fibre). 
• Temporary pedestrian crossings will be installed nearby KFC and Hertz to provide safe access to the available footpath. These crossings will be protected by speed humps.
• Access for residents vehicles will be maintained, other than occasional days when the work will affect getting across driveway entrances. Contractors will provide notice of those dates to affected residents by letter-box drop.
• Around the middle of next week, the speed along McAlister Street, from Domain Road to Peace Street, will be reduced to 30 kph to protect the safety of pedestrians and our contractors.
• From 21 July VMS (mobile video signs) will be located on Landing Road and Commerce Street to encourage motorists to avoid McAlister Street to further reduce the impact on residents, the school community and our contractors.
• From 26 July, there will be an exclusive Apanui School drop-off and pick-up zone on the eastern side of McAlister Street, from Louvain Street to Merritt Street; and also along the northern side of Merrit Street (to the Bowling Club). 

Information for businesses

We recognise that potential service interruption will impact businesses in particular and we want to be able to mitigate that as much as possible. The best way to do that is through direct communication, and so we ask that businesses contact us by the project email: McAlister-watermain@whakatane.govt.nz so that we can arrange to meet with you to discuss the project.

The Project

In preparation for the project physical works, companies who provide underground services (eg electricity, gas and fibre) have marked out the location of their cables so that that the principal contractor Draintech, can plan the best alignment for the new water pipe that will mostly be installed by directional drilling. You may see the spray-painted markings on footpaths or driveways.

Test holes will soon be dug to verify pipe locations. Please note that 'test' holes will be refilled and made safe, but in some cases full reinstatement of paving, berm and potentially cobble stones, won't take place until after the new pipeline is commissioned. Please note the test holes may be on either side of McAlister Street and potentially side streets.

It’s important that we let you know that despite all measures put in place to prevent problems during the course of the project, there is the potential for loss of services (water, power, fibre) during the drilling and pipe laying stages. 

Please be assured that providing information during the course of the project is a high priority, aimed at giving you enough advance notice to plan your lives around any inconveniences caused by the work schedule.  

The page will be regularly updated with information about where contractors will be working, project progress and scheduled water shutdowns that will occur at various times as the new water main is brought online. We’ll also use the Council Facebook page to provide updates and to get messages out quickly should that be necessary.

Draintech will also be establishing a site office at the former Wally Sutherland reception building which will be another contact point for information.

Background

In 1959 a major pipeline was installed along McAlister Street to supply water to residents and the town centre. Over time, the supply has extended to now service over 200 residential and numerous business properties.

This critical main, from Domain Road to Beach Street is now scheduled for replacement as it has reached the end of its safe and useful life. Aging water pipes are more at risk of failure, with the potential for allowing contamination to enter the supply water, damage to other infrastructure and properties, as well as the problems associated with interruption of service to the community and businesses.

Whakatāne District Council is investing $1.2 million to replace the water main. The work includes replacing all associated valves, hydrants, fittings, service lines water meters and connections to existing water mains. 

This renewal project will ensure a reliable and safe water supply to meet the needs of our growing town centre for the next 60 years.

Project enquiries

Project enquiries are welcome at McAlister-watermain@whakatane.govt.nz or if you have any urgent concerns, please call Draintech's Stuart Munro on 027 274 7033 or Whakatāne District Council's Three Waters Project Manager Leilani Salanguit on 07 306 0500 Ext 7521 or 027 268 2356.