Tasman District Council brings forward study into Mapua’s infrastructure needs

The Tasman District Council plans to carry out a study into Mapua’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs in response to pipe breakages and growth pressures.

Engineering Services Committee chairman Trevor Norriss said several water pipe breakages over the past year in Mapua were a concern, and the Council wanted to be in a position to react quickly if the situation worsened.

“As pipes near the end of their life, breakages quickly become more frequent. A feasibility study will let us know if we are reaching that point with the existing water pipes in Mapua and allow us to act sooner if we need to replace them.

“The study will tell us the best pipe design and routes, as well as give us better information on demand, the benefits and risks of the upgrades, and detailed costings.

“We were planning to undertake significant infrastructure work in Mapua between 2017 and 2028, but we may have to consider bringing some of those upgrades forward to make sure Mapua residents continue to have a secure water supply.”

Cr Norris said that, in addition to the pipe breakages, growth in Mapua is testing the limit of the current infrastructure.

“Both the water and wastewater networks in Mapua are near, or at, capacity so the system cannot accommodate growth over and above the development that already has consent.

“The feasibility study will give us a better idea of how we can manage the effect of growth and a realistic path forward over time.”

Cr Norriss said the outcome of the feasibility study would be fed into the Council’s 2018-2028 Long Term Plan. That may require some work to be done earlier than envisaged in the current 2015-2015 plan.

The upgrades planned in the existing Long Term Plan, totalling $11 million, include:

• Mapua water storage upgrade – 2017–2019

• Water pipe renewals – 2018-2021

• Water reticulation upgrades, including between Waimea pumping station across Rabbit Island to Mapua Wharf – 2025-2028

• New wastewater pump station and rising main at Stafford Drive – 2018-2021

• Wastewater pump station upgrades – 2019-2023

• Replacement Aranui Road wastewater pump station – 2026-2029

• New wastewater rising main across Mapua Channel – 2026-2028

ENDS

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