AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

St Heliers and Mission Bay “dig once” projects underway

Work to upgrade the stormwater network in St Heliers is due to begin next month, with Auckland City awarding the tender to Fulton Hogan Ltd.

The works will involve upgrading the stormwater system and outfall from St Heliers Bay, along Tamaki Drive and up The Parade to Dingle Dell Reserve. It will include:

installing a box culvert from the new outlet structure in St Heliers Bay, which will be 2.5 metres high by 3 metres wide

modifying the local drainage network to prevent stormwater discharges to the beach area

extending a new drain of up to two metres in diameter along Tamaki Drive and The Parade to Dingle Dell to reduce flooding in the area.

“This upgrade will reduce flooding and help manage stormwater runoff from Tamaki Drive onto St Heliers beach,” says Councillor Neil Abel, chairperson of Auckland City’s Works and Services Committee.

The upgrade is one of several co-ordinated projects planned for St Heliers and Mission Bay this winter and will ensure that the beach, road reserve and stormwater systems are in place for summer.

Auckland City is facilitating a combined, co-ordinated programme of activity to ensure a “dig once” approach is applied to work scheduled for Tamaki Drive, St Heliers beach, The Parade, Auckland Road, Dingle walkway and Mission Bay.

In addition to the stormwater upgrade the programme includes:

undergrounding power and telephone lines, managed by Vector and Telecom

street light upgrade on Tamaki Drive from Auckland Road, including The Parade and Dingle walkway

St Heliers beach sand replenishment and construction of new headlands to protect Tamaki Drive from coastal erosion

The Parade and Dingle walkway footpath upgrade

St Heliers Bay reserve upgrade, and

Mission Bay fountain drainage renewal.

Work will begin on the beach resanding project next week. The playground at the end of St Heliers beach will be temporarily closed from Monday 8 May 2006 to late December.

A metalled track will run through the playground area for access to the beach during construction of headlands to contain the new sand. The playground will be fully reinstated at the completion of the contract prior to the playground reopening. Alternative playgrounds in the vicinity are in Glover Park, Patterson Avenue and Okahu Bay (completed by 17 June 2006).

Mission Bay Fountain drainage renewal work will begin on Monday 15 May and will involve installing a new stormwater drain that will help stop the surface flooding problems the area currently experiences. The new stormwater drain is designed to discharge to the stream beside the walkway to reduce the risk of sand blockages caused by tidal action.

The pipeline will be laid in stages, approximately 20 – 30m at a time. Each stage will be fenced off to ensure the public are safe. Access to the children's play area and the beach will be maintained at all times. The work is due to be completed by the end of June.

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