Kaitāia Water Project
Project details
Project type | Water supply infrastructure |
Project value | $15.3 million |
Project status | Near completion |
The Kaitāia Water Project (Sweetwater Bore and Pipeline) will provide safe, good quality drinking water to the Kaitāia township along with the existing supply from the Awanui River. It can supply additional water to boost the water resilience of local households and businesses in Kaitāia. The total project cost was $15.3 million.
To find out more about Kaitāia's water supply go here.
The benefits of the project
Securing a permanent supplementary water source for Kaitāia and improving its drought resilience has been a priority of the council for years and was driven by our Infrastructure and Asset Management Team.
The benefits of this project are:
- the ability to provide potable water to the existing Kaitāia water distribution network
- to provide competent legacy workforce for the future of Council/Northland infrastructure projects
- to stimulate the Northland economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scope of the project included:
- two production bores to ensure adequate supply and to allow for maintenance
- a pipeline to the water treatment plant at Okahu Road
- and a connection into the water treatment plant.
The bore site includes buffer tanks and a booster pump to convey water from the buffer tanks to the water treatment plant, along with power and telemetry.
Project structures
Boresite construction: Works at the bore sites consisted of headworks stainless steel installation for two bores, connecting 390 metres of pipeline, six 25000 litre buffer tanks, a two pump pumpstation with future provision for a third pump, security fencing, a gravel access road and gravel foundations, associated earthworks and reinstatement works.
Main structure: The main structure of the pipeline is the Bonnetts Road pipe bridge. This takes the pipe across the Awanui River. The pipe bridge runs parallel to the current vehicle one-way bridge. It spans 38 metres. The pipe bridge was installed successfully in May 2022 with all connections and air valves constructed. A stainless steel pipe carrier was fabricated and fixed to the existing one-way bridge at Sandhills Road to carry water across the drain.
Transfer pipeline: The 14 km pipeline extends from the bore site, goes through three private properties, follows the road corridor, continues through another private property, then past the college, and along the road reserve until it finally reaches the water treatment plant at Okahu Road in Kaitāia. There are 29 air valves, 13 scour valves and various isolation valves along the pipeline.
Project official opening - June 2022
Project milestones
Milestone one – completion of bores at Sweetwater
Phase one involved drilling bores to reach the Aupōuri aquifer at Sweetwater. This was completed by McMillan Drilling, who turned two temporary emergency bores at the Sweetwater site into permanent water sources and also created two new monitoring bores.
Milestone two - the construction of the pipeline
Phase two involved the construction of a 14 kilometre pipeline to transport the water from the Sweetwater bores to Kaitāia’s water treatment plant on Okahu Road.
Milestone three – pipe bridge crossings
There are two river crossings along the pipeline route at Sandhills Road and Bonnetts Road.
Pipes were attached to the Sandhills Road bridge with a series of engineered brackets and new wingwalls spanning 12.8 metres. A truss bridge was constructed for the pipeline at the Bonnetts Road bridge and runs parallel to the existing vehicle bridge. The pipe bridge is a triangular truss structure where the pipe sits in the centre, spanning 38 metres.
Milestone four - completion of pipeline and official opening
This project was officially opened on 20 June 2022.
Milestone five – modifications to headworks and treatment system at boresite
Additional treatment and changes to the bore headworks to improve the turbidity and hydrogen sulphide levels of the bore water. Planned to be completed by April 2023.
Project budget
The value of the project is $15.3 million.
Properties that are connected to the scheme, or are able to connect, will pay $452.62 (including GST) in 2022/23.
Targeted rates for 2023/24 will not be finalised until June this year.
Filming credit - Aerial Vision
Our project update for November
- Over 8700m of pipe has now been installed.
- A maximum of 200m of pipe a day is installed when conditions allow.
- The installation of scour valve and air valve chambers has begun along Bonnetts Rd and on to Gill Rd.
- Pressure testing is ongoing in sections for the pipe that have been installed.
- At the bore sites, platforms have been installed and access roads completed.
Pipe strings on Bird Road.
Scour valve tee and chamber installation on Bonnett Road. Existing emergency water pipelines exposed.
Filling for pressure testing on Gill Road.
Concrete slab at Borehole 2.
Site access track.
Location
Bird Road, Awanui 0486 View Map