Warkworth growth servicing pipeline

The latest

We have confirmed a solution for our planned growth pipeline through Warkworth’s town centre that keeps disruption to a minimum and has the support of local business association One Mahurangi. Our Board of Directors approved the recommendation from management at its meeting in December 2024.

While the full growth servicing pipeline will eventually run north and south to connect future developments to the new Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, our team is prioritising the Elizabeth Street upgrade via temporary connection to existing infrastructure in Queen Street. This early connection to the Warkworth Street Pump Station is expected to be operational by December 2026—two years earlier than originally planned. The remaining sections will now be installed by December 2027 thanks to further efficiencies being identified.

Project overview

The growth servicing pipeline is an incredibly important piece of infrastructure that not only supports new housing north of the Mahurangi River but will significantly reduce the number of wet weather overflows into the river (and therefore the harbour). It will run from the Warkworth Showgrounds through the town centre and connect to the recently built Warkworth Street Pump Station. It is a critical piece in the puzzle of our $450m+ Warkworth wastewater scheme that completely overhauls how the community’s wastewater is transported and treated.

What’s happening now?

In September our contractor will lay a new wastewater pipeline to the side of the bridge. This will then connect to three new steel wastewater pipes the contractor will install along Elizabeth Street by open trenching. The latter work is currently set to start in late-September, for three weeks.

We set up our work site for the 4.7m-deep shaft at the Hill Street intersection in late July. The site is an important base for three underground tunnels we will bore: beneath Elizabeth Street, along to Kōwhai Park and to a further site on Brown Road (now also set up). The Brown Road site will provide wastewater connections to the Shoesmith development and collect other wastewater flows from that area.

We recognise there was recently much public interest in the plants removed from this road reserve. Rest assured that these have been carefully removed and cared for so they can be replanted at the end of the works at this site.

Work is also continuing in Lucy Moore Memorial Park and at the bottom of Baxter Street to prepare our shaft sites for the tunnel to Warkworth Street East.

A new motorhome dump station has been completed at 15 Hamatana Road, Snells Beach, with completion expected by July 2026. We now Kowhai Reserve facility will close to help reduce traffic while pipeline works continue through to early 2027.

Upcoming works

Our contractor will complete service relocation work at our new shaft site on the corner of Kapanui and Queen Streets in mid-September. When the services are fully relocated under the footpath, we will begin shaft site works for the main pipeline. This involves piling and excavation of an 8m x 4m rectangle shaft, followed by pipe installation, manhole construction and reinstatement. We currently aim to complete this work in March next year.

For the main shaft works, we have unfortunately had to close the road to all vehicles in and out of Kapanui Street. Detour signs will redirect vehicles to Wharf Street to access Kapanui Street where there is plenty of parking around the waterfront.

Pedestrian access on both sides of Kapanui Street will not be affected by this work.

Traffic management will be in place to ensure everyone’s safety. Please follow the signs for the detour along to Wharf Street. Traffic controllers are on site to assist you.

We’ll keep you updated as things progress.

Traffic Changes

Elizabeth Street will operate as a one-way, single lane into town from Hill Street, with stop/go traffic management and a signposted detour in place.

Reduced speeds, limited parking, pedestrian detours, and the temporary closure of the Elizabeth Street Reserve will apply while works are underway.

The current traffic setup is likely to remain until the end of September 2026, with pipeline works continuing through to late October. Traffic management will change as works progress, and updates will be shared as details are confirmed.Upgrades to the existing network

We’ll keep you updated as things progress.

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