A new tunnel boring machine, affectionately named Blanche, is helping to install a new outfall pipeline at the Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant in Whangaparāoa.
The $31 million outfall pipeline upgrade will make the system more reliable and resilient so it can cope with population growth. It is due to be completed by Watercare in November 2018.
Albany Ward Councillor Wayne Walker says the existing outfall pipe is ageing and wasn’t designed to cope with the population growth now predicted.
“This upgrade will allow a quadrupling in discharge capacity from 350 litres per second to 1450 litres per second,” he says.
Fellow Councillor John Watson is impressed with the technology being used.
“Everything is being done to protect the wildlife sanctuary at Shakespear Regional Park and the impact on neighbouring properties,” he says.
“This technology uses a ‘direct pipe’ method of tunnelling, which means sections of steel pipe are thrust into place. The 2km thrust will be a world record.”
The new outfall pipe is being assembled in Kaiaua and will be floated to Tiritiri Matangi Channel before being submerged.
Search ‘Army Bay’ at watercare.co.nz for project updates.
