On Monday November 4, Councillor Greg Sayers, alongside members of the Rodney Local Board, visited the Snells Wastewater Treatment Plant—an essential part of Watercare’s Warkworth Wastewater Scheme. This visit showcased the substantial progress on a project poised to reshape wastewater services for the region.
The Snells Wastewater Treatment Plant is central to a broader $300 million initiative aimed at enhancing local wastewater network performance and supporting growth in Warkworth, Snells Beach, and Algies Bay. A cutting-edge treatment facility, set to open by mid-to-late 2025, is expected to improve service capacity and reduce overflows from the current network, protecting the local environment.
Snells Wastewater Treatment Plant.
During his visit, Councillor Sayers expressed appreciation for the dedicated team driving the project forward.
"The commitment of everyone involved is truly commendable. Their hard work ensures that our communities will have access to dependable and efficient wastewater services," he stated.
Councillor Sayers also highlighted the importance of strategic infrastructure planning.
"Seeing projects of this scale—costing hundreds of millions and spanning years to complete—emphasizes the need for a staged growth plan, as outlined in Auckland Council’s Future Development Strategy. Unplanned growth can disrupt the work of utility providers like Watercare, which is why we so strongly encourage developers to align with our strategic plan."
The project includes a five-kilometre pipeline transporting wastewater from Warkworth to Snells Beach, completed in three tunnelled stages—a feat of engineering and meticulous planning. A significant milestone in this project was recently achieved with the completion of the final leg of the pipeline installation by the tunnel-boring machine, Piper. On Sunday, November 10, Piper completed her journey, installing the five-kilometre-long pipeline that will transport wastewater from Warkworth to the Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant. This pipeline is a crucial component of the broader programme to improve the performance of the local wastewater network and support growth in Warkworth, Snells Beach, and Algies Bay
Project manager Dirk Du Plessis noted that the pipeline was tunnelled in three stages, with the last stage being the shortest and easiest for Piper to complete. "On her final leg, Piper went headfirst, mostly downhill, to tunnel through consistent but hard ground. Unlike the other two legs, her third leg had no curves on it—making things a bit easier and faster," he explained
Throughout her journey, Piper used her face to devour a smorgasbord of various soft and hard ground that were transported out of the tunnel and separated from the water at a dedicated separation plant at the launchpad. At the separation plant, the ground material is separated, and water is pumped back to Piper to transport much-needed bentonite for lubrication and for pumping tailings back to the surface
Senior project engineer AJ Jaafar mentioned that despite Piper breaking down twice on her 14-month journey, the installation of the pipeline has gone rather smoothly.
"Between each leg, a dedicated McConnell Dowell crew would spend two to three months getting her ready to go. During this time, the crew would give her a good pampering: washing and checking her hydraulics, motors, and navigation systems, as well as replacing worn-out seals and mechanical parts or broken equipment damaged from her last leg," Jaafar said
Once Piper completes this final leg, she will undergo a full maintenance check.
"After Piper gets a clean bill of health, she will move onto her next job with her own dedicated drive crew. Our next major milestone for the project is to backfill the drive sites and to connect the pipeline into the Lucy Moore Wastewater Pump Station and Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant," Jaafar added.
Watercare’s $300 million investment underscores the critical importance of this infrastructure to regional growth and sustainable wastewater management. This new facility will replace the existing Warkworth plant, which is nearing capacity, meeting resource consent conditions aimed at safeguarding the environment and community health.
Councillor Sayers’ visit to the Snells Wastewater Treatment Plant highlights the pivotal role that strategic infrastructure investments play in supporting community growth and sustainability. The Warkworth Wastewater Scheme exemplifies how targeted infrastructure upgrades enhance service delivery and environmental stewardship.
For more on the Snells Wastewater Treatment plant, visit Watercare’s project page.
