Belfast-to-city pipe route saves money
A section of the new Belfast-to-city sewer pipeline will be laid across farm land, saving $150,000 and reducing potential disruption to road users.
The route from Tyrone Street in Belfast to Lower Styx Road is now going through farmland from Factory Road to Marshland Road. The original route had the pipe going down Gutheries and Belfast roads and back up Marshland Road.
“The Council has worked with the farmer to reach an agreement to lay the pipe across his land,” says Bruce Henderson, the Council’s Wastewater Asset Manager. “This means a shorter, more efficient route because there are fewer bends, reduced disruption to motorists and a saving in the cost of the project.”
In June the contractor used a thrusting technique to lay pipe under the Kaputone Creek and railway line in Factory Road, and under Marshlands Road. “It involves equipment, placed in prepared pits, which pushes a steel pipe from one pit to the other,” says Mr Henderson. “The sewer pipe is then slipped into the steel pipe.”
Constructing the pipe between Frosts Road and Bottle Lake Plantation began in June through a section of Travis Wetland and is likely to be completed by September.
The pipe is being laid alongside a section of the walkway, which for safety reasons is closed. “Walkers can continue their route around the wetland by taking a short deviation along Mairehau Road,” says John Skilton, Travis Wetland Ranger. “The section of walkway from the Beach Road car park to the area opposite Inwards Road will be sufficiently complete to re-open early this month,” he says.
Originally scheduled for 2009, the pipeline is being constructed from Belfast to Frosts Roads, where it will connect with the city’s wastewater system. The work has been brought forward partly due to the fast pace of development in and around Belfast. The project, which includes an upgrade of the Belfast pumping station, is planned to end in June next year.
Belfast has a wastewater treatment plant, but considerable upgrading would be required if it was to meet the standards necessary for the increased volume associated with Belfast’s population growth. Current upgrading of the Christchurch wastewater treatment plant will improve water quality and increase capacity — sufficient to meet the growing needs of both Christchurch and Belfast. |
