Elizabeth St Pipeline Renewal

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Thank you - this project is now almost complete

We are upgrading water, stormwater and wastewater services in Elizabeth Street, St Andrews Street and the western end of Joseph Street

This project is to fix long standing surface flooding issues in the area and replace ageing infrastructure. Fulton Hogan is our contractor.

There are 66 properties in Elizabeth Street with combined wastewater and stormwater pipelines. These are not effective and don’t meet today’s environmental standards.

Elizabeth Street is not alone in facing issues with combined networks. About 40% of Gore's wastewater network and 24% of Mataura's is a combined system, meaning wastewater and stormwater are conveyed in a single pipe.

In 2018 we adopted a Gore Stormwater Master Plan which identified issues with combined networks and provided a framework for a works programme.


What's the problem?

With our stormwater — the rainfall that runs off hard surfaces and typically doesn’t require treatment — flowing into wastewater pipes and to the wastewater treatment plant, we have to unnecessarily treat huge volumes of wastewater (everything that goes down the drain at your house).

There are further issues during heavy rain. The combined system struggles to cope with the volume of water flowing through it, causing wastewater to overflow into the street, people’s properties and into the Mataura River. High flows also cause problems at our wastewater treatment plant.


What are we doing?

There are two aspects to this project.

1. Working on infrastructure in the roadway

  • Replacing the entire Elizabeth Street water main
  • Replacing the wastewater pipeline
  • Installing a new stormwater pipeline, which will discharge into a stormwater infiltration basin at the intersection of Broughton and Elizabeth streets

This first phase includes replacing wastewater and stormwater laterals up to one metre inside a resident's boundary.

2. Working on infrastructure in private property

  • Ensuring there are separate wastewater and stormwater pipes from homes discharging into the new separate pipelines.

Last year we consulted with the community, through our 10-Year-Plan, on funding options for this separation work.

Separation of the existing combined private property drainage in this catchment is essential for residents to obtain the full benefit of the new stormwater reticulation. Therefore, to ensure this is achieved the Council will fully fund private property separation work.

We have set up a panel of local plumbing contractors to undertake the private property separation work.

Each contractor will be initially given between three and five properties to design and price. Council staff would then complete a comparison of similar jobs priced by the various contractors on the panel.


What can people expect

We are planning to have work completed in the roadway within six months of starting. While Fulton Hogan will be taking measures to minimise the impact, there will be disruptions for residents. Anyone not living there is encouraged to avoid the area.

There will be:

• Sections of Elizabeth Street closed for most of the project.

• Traffic flow changes likely

• Property accessways temporarily blocked

• Isolated short-term water shutdowns

• Dust and noise


How much will it cost?

The overall estimated cost of the Elizabeth Street project, excluding the private property separation is approximately $4.14 million. This will be funded by loan.


We are upgrading water, stormwater and wastewater services in Elizabeth Street, St Andrews Street and the western end of Joseph Street

This project is to fix long standing surface flooding issues in the area and replace ageing infrastructure. Fulton Hogan is our contractor.

There are 66 properties in Elizabeth Street with combined wastewater and stormwater pipelines. These are not effective and don’t meet today’s environmental standards.

Elizabeth Street is not alone in facing issues with combined networks. About 40% of Gore's wastewater network and 24% of Mataura's is a combined system, meaning wastewater and stormwater are conveyed in a single pipe.

In 2018 we adopted a Gore Stormwater Master Plan which identified issues with combined networks and provided a framework for a works programme.


What's the problem?

With our stormwater — the rainfall that runs off hard surfaces and typically doesn’t require treatment — flowing into wastewater pipes and to the wastewater treatment plant, we have to unnecessarily treat huge volumes of wastewater (everything that goes down the drain at your house).

There are further issues during heavy rain. The combined system struggles to cope with the volume of water flowing through it, causing wastewater to overflow into the street, people’s properties and into the Mataura River. High flows also cause problems at our wastewater treatment plant.


What are we doing?

There are two aspects to this project.

1. Working on infrastructure in the roadway

  • Replacing the entire Elizabeth Street water main
  • Replacing the wastewater pipeline
  • Installing a new stormwater pipeline, which will discharge into a stormwater infiltration basin at the intersection of Broughton and Elizabeth streets

This first phase includes replacing wastewater and stormwater laterals up to one metre inside a resident's boundary.

2. Working on infrastructure in private property

  • Ensuring there are separate wastewater and stormwater pipes from homes discharging into the new separate pipelines.

Last year we consulted with the community, through our 10-Year-Plan, on funding options for this separation work.

Separation of the existing combined private property drainage in this catchment is essential for residents to obtain the full benefit of the new stormwater reticulation. Therefore, to ensure this is achieved the Council will fully fund private property separation work.

We have set up a panel of local plumbing contractors to undertake the private property separation work.

Each contractor will be initially given between three and five properties to design and price. Council staff would then complete a comparison of similar jobs priced by the various contractors on the panel.


What can people expect

We are planning to have work completed in the roadway within six months of starting. While Fulton Hogan will be taking measures to minimise the impact, there will be disruptions for residents. Anyone not living there is encouraged to avoid the area.

There will be:

• Sections of Elizabeth Street closed for most of the project.

• Traffic flow changes likely

• Property accessways temporarily blocked

• Isolated short-term water shutdowns

• Dust and noise


How much will it cost?

The overall estimated cost of the Elizabeth Street project, excluding the private property separation is approximately $4.14 million. This will be funded by loan.


Thank you - this project is now almost complete

  • Elizabeth Street Pipeline Renewal Project Update

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    The final stage of the Elizabeth Street Pipeline Renewal Project is planned to start on Monday 25 September.

    The work will involve:

    • Reshaping the road immediately outside the infiltration basin at the corner of Broughton and Elizabeth streets,
    • Reinstating grass berms, and
    • Sealing driveways.

    This work is expected to be completed by 27 October. It was delayed until after winter because trying to complete this work when the ground is cold and saturated was likely to result in quality issues.

    The extent of the work means:

    • Elizabeth Street will be open only to residents from 25 September and,
    • The intersection of Elizabeth and Broughton streets will be closed to all traffic from 2 October until 27 October.

    We understand the continued traffic management disruptions and parking restrictions will cause some nuisance for residents and motorists.

    Your continued patience is appreciated in the final push to complete this critical infrastructure project, and we thank you for your understanding.

    Private Property Separation Works

    Local plumbing companies have made steady progress separating the stormwater and wastewater drains in private properties along Elizabeth Street.

    If Council staff have not already been in contract to discuss the work required inside your property, we will be in touch before the end of the year.

    Alternatively, if you would like to discuss this work now, please contact 3 Waters Project Engineer Terry Trotter, phone 021 798 086 or email ttrotter@goredc.govt.nz.