$16 million water supply upgrades set to begin

Significant upgrades to four rural water supplies will soon be underway, benefitting residents in Waihola, Lawrence, Tuapeka and Balmoral.

Clutha District Mayor, Bryan Cadogan says, “After extensive engagement with our rural water schemes we are making significant investment in these four water schemes. These projects will improve water supply for our residents as well as improving water quality for close to 1000 properties.”

Construction of a 17km pipeline from the Milton water treatment plant to Waihola will start in December.

“Council has been working for some time to find the best solution for Waihola. The water supply of around 250 residential connections is at capacity and the township is continuing to grow. This upgrade is needed to help meet growth and will essentially double the amount of water available in Waihola as well as making supply available for development in the Milburn area.”

The pipeline upgrade is expected to be completed in late 2023 and once operational, will move the township’s water supply from the North Bruce rural water scheme to the Milton water treatment plant.

Meanwhile, the Greenfield Rural Drinking Water Scheme Project, which involves a new water source and construction of a 41km pipeline from near the Clydevale Bridge to Lawrence, will get underway in early 2023.

“This project will improve the quality of drinking water and the reliability of supply to the Balmoral, Tuapeka and Lawrence water schemes. It also has additional capacity to futureproof water supply for the area.”

This first stage of upgrades involves pipework and will cost $16.3 million. Contracts for construction of pump stations and treatment plants are still to be tendered and are not included in the $16 million cost.