Piping of the open drain on Kitchener Street is expected to start in the spring.

The open drain, that starts near the town’s southern entrance on Achilles Street and runs right down to the river on Kopu Road, has attracted additional external funding secured under the NZTA road safety funding criteria.

Piping the open drain is part of a Wairoa District Council plan to future-proof the town’s stormwater network with the Kitchener Street drain recognised as a particular eyesore and safety issue.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little is thrilled the project is about to be launched.

“Council had already made a commitment to start piping the open drain with the additional funding meaning the piping will be extended.

“The open drain has plagued locals and Councils for decades and we never imagined we would be able to make such a significant start as piping the drain was always recognised as impossible without securing funding from an additional source.”

The development of the drainage plan and modelling of the water capacity to future proof the drain has required larger pipes and culverts than those already in place. These pipes need to be specifically made which has caused the project start date to be delayed.

Design work will include pipes in the junctions along Kitchener Street being replaced with some of the pipe work past its use by date and other pipes and materials tagged to be used on other jobs.

Some of the levels of the pipes will also differ to accommodate the new design grade for the drain which is a significant point of drainage for the catchment.

Materials for the piping will be ordered over the winter with a spring start likely to mean less disruption and fewer delays.

“Attracting a subsidy to assist us with this work is great news, from an aesthetic perspective and also from a health and safety angle.”

Mr Little urged members of the public to be patient while the work is being carried out saying it will be a disruption, but it will be worth it in the end.

16 May 2019

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