What a borer!

The Warkworth to Snells Beach wastewater pipeline project is entering its Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) phase and to celebrate, Watercare is hosting an open day at Dawson Road Reserve, next to Snells Beach Primary School, on Wednesday, June 14, from 10am to 2pm. A Watercare spokesperson says the open day will be an opportunity for the community to see Piper, the TBM, before she dives headfirst underground. The machine will reach depths varying between five and 61 metres to construct the five kilometre wastewater pipeline between the Snells Beach wastewater treatment plant and Lucy Moore Park wastewater pump station.

The pipeline and the construction of the Lucy Moore Park pump station are core projects in Watercare’s $300-plus million infrastructure upgrade for the Snells Beach and Warkworth area.

Watercare senior project manager Dirk du Plessis says the pump station and treatment plant will play a key role in sustaining regional development, population growth and safeguarding the environment.

“Apart from meeting Piper, and perhaps getting a selfie, the open day will give people the opportunity to learn more about the work Watercare has going on in the area,” Du Plessis says. He adds that Piper – named Starlight Piper by pupils at Snells Beach School in 2020 –has been steadily drilling tunnels from Snells Beach to Algies Bay for the last three years supervised by contractor McConnell Dowell. The pipeline between Warkworth and Snells Beach is expected to take about 16 months to complete, and involves drilling and pulling the pipeline’s 423 steel pipes, weighing around 7.5 tonnes each, into place.

“Overall, the project is on track to be completed in early 2025.”

The open day will include free baristamade coffee and a sausage sizzle.

The Takatu LandCare group is inviting people to join their planting day on Sunday June 11. The group is restoring a riparian strip on the Tāwharanui Peninsula. The site will be an important waypoint for native birds travelling the peninsula, and will help reduce silt and nutrient runoff. Landowners have fenced the stream, cleared the weeds and prepared the ground, and Auckland Council has funded the plants. “We now need help to plant more than 6000 natives over two weekends,” a spokesperson said. The first planting is on June 11, on the corner of Takatu and Whitmore Roads, will start at 9am. Volunteers are being asked to bring a spade, friends and snacks. A BBQ lunch will be provided. Plants are being laid out on Saturday June 10 and any help with that job would also be greatly appreciated. RSVP to: pestcontrol@takatulandcare.com or call 022 364 7063

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