Construction has finally begun on the $16 million third stage of the long-awaited Whangarei Heads Sewerage Scheme.
The scheme, which has been in the pipeline for almost 20 years, is the biggest contract ever awarded by the Whangarei District Council. It aims to cut the amount of pollution flowing into the
Whangarei Harbour from septic tanks in the Heads area.
Councillors awarded the contract for building the pumping station and reticulation system to United Civil Construction. Stage three of the project will hook up McLeod Bay, Reotahi Bay, Little Munro Bay, McGregors Bay, Taurikura Bay and Urquharts Bay.
United Civil Construction boss Andrew Campbell said Reotahi was the first place to be affected by construction, which would continue for 18 months and was expected to be complete by April 2008.
Mr Campbell said it was the largest contract his company had undertaken. During construction over 30,000m of pipe will be used to connect more than 400 houses via 15 major pumping stations.
Mr Campbell described the inconvenience to local residents as "short term pain, long term gain". The construction process had been designed so that each area could be worked on individually and cleaned up before the the next began.
A trenchless directional drilling system will be used, limiting the amount of digging required.
Connecting to the scheme will cost existing property owners $7000 with the option of paying over five years interest free. Future property owners will be hit harder still with a $19,866 fee per property. Up to 40 Whangarei people will be employed during peak construction, with much of the work subcontracted to Fulton Hogan.
