Midway Beach pipework postponed for a week

Midway Beach Sewer Pipe Line

Due to forecast rain from tomorrow into next week, the district council has postponed the repair work needed to a section of the wastewater outfall pipe at Midway Beach until the week of Monday, October 2.

As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, silt built up around the discharge ports of the outfall pipe and, combined with prolonged high pumping rates, created a lot more pressure on the outfall pipe.

That resulted in a crack forming at the top of a Y section joint of the fibreglass pipe. The affected section of pipe, measuring eight metres, will be replaced with a steel pipe.

“The outfall pipe is still operating, but the crack needs to be fixed,” a council spokesman said.

Repairs were scheduled to start next week.

“Because of the rain forecast, it’s not looking favourable for the pipeline repair as we need dry conditions.” a council spokesman said.

The council has previously issued an important advisory to beach users and surfers at The Pipe.

“A discharge of treated wastewater is scheduled to take place at the The Pipe, now in the week starting October 2,” the spokesman said.

“The wastewater is treated to a high level as it’s been through the wastewater treatment plant.”

The area of Midway Beach near The Pipe will be closed to the public while the repair work’s being done.

“The treated wastewater will be discharged into the shallow water.

“Even though the wastewater is treated, we still advise no contact with the water for five days after the discharge has stopped.

“This includes surfing, swimming or shellfish gathering.”