Work is set to begin on a new underground wastewater pump station at the corner of Buddle Street and Kakahoroa Drive, as part of a wider upgrade to the wastewater network in Whakatāne.
Construction is expected to start on 6 April and be completed by the end of August 2026. The works contract has been awarded to Tauranga based GT Civil Ltd, which recently completed the construction of Whakatāne District Council’s Otumahi Water Reservoir pipeline project.
The new pump station will support the largest wastewater network in the district and will operate alongside the existing McAlister Street pump station to transfer wastewater to the treatment plant. It represents the first stage of a broader upgrade programme, which will later include refurbishment of the McAlister Street pump station and renewal of the pumping main that connects the network to the wastewater treatment plant.
The Buddle Street pump station will provide capacity for future growth within the catchment and help reduce the frequency and impact of wet weather overflow events. It will do this by providing additional storage and lifting and conveying wastewater through the network, allowing it to reach the wastewater treatment plant more efficiently rather than relying on gravity alone. Overall, the upgrade will increase network capacity by approximately 80 percent.
Most of the works will take place within the grass berm at the corner of Buddle Street and Kakahoroa Drive, within the road reserve and adjacent to the New World car park boundary. The majority of the infrastructure, including the pump station, manholes and pipework, will be located underground. Approximately 245 metres of pumping main will be installed from the Buddle Street pump station using horizontal drilling, connecting into the existing main that conveys wastewater to the Whakatāne wastewater treatment plant.
The project will be delivered in stages, with traffic management in place at certain times to minimise impacts on businesses that use the service lane. Access to the service lane will be maintained throughout the project. There are no expected interruptions to existing wastewater or water services for properties along The Strand. However, some noise and vibration from construction activities may occur, and Whakatāne District Council and GT Civil will work to minimise impacts wherever possible.
Thank you for your patience while this important mahi is completed. If you have any questions about the works, contact Customer Services at info@whakatane.govt.nz.
Works will take place on the right-hand side of the photo, along the service lane section of road, including the Buddle Street New World exit.
The example above provides a visual reference for the type of pump station that will be constructed, with most of the infrastructure located underground. While the final Buddle Street pump station will be larger and different in scale, this image offers context. The pump station pictured here is located on Fisherman’s Drive, next to the playground.