Waiuku Town Centre Stormwater Improvements.

Franklin District Council has more good news for Waiuku – Council reports that they are approximately 70% of the way through the Waiuku Town Centre Stormwater Improvement project. This is good news for the town which has been patient and supportive throughout the work. The project will bring major improvements to Waiuku’s collection of stormwater.


“It’s an exciting project for Council and for Waiuku and will greatly reduce the amount of water that runs over the footpaths and roads when it rains,” says Franklin District Council’s Asset Manager for Stormwater, Godfrey White.


Earthworks and the laying of pipes for the Waiuku Town Centre Stormwater Improvement project started in July this year. Since then there has been some confusion about how the roads are being affected by the work and how it ties in with another major project in Waiuku, the Town Centre Upgrade.


Council has to cut into the road to lay the main stormwater collection pipe. They then also have to connect down pipes from each building to the main stormwater collection pipe. After the stormwater project is finished they will then also resurface many roads as part of the Town Centre Upgrade.


Godfrey explains: “Restoring the road completely between each step wouldn’t have been a good use of ratepayer’s money. But leaving it open would have caused issues with loose metal and dust. So, instead, the contractors worked out that they could lay a temporary surface which would allow them to get back into the pipe to do the connections while making the road safer and more pleasant while connections take place.”


Council will ensure roads are returned to a high standard after the stormwater project and then resurfaced during the Waiuku Town Centre Upgrade due to start shortly after the stormwater project is complete.


Council admits the temporary surface isn’t the same as a completed surface, but assures people it is a best practice solution to allow the work to be completed without undue expense and double-ups.


“People dislike nothing more than seeing the Council do something in an inefficient way. The temporary surface allows us to keep the road safe and useable during the majority of the construction time while being good stewards of ratepayer’s money,” says Godfrey.