Old Albert Park pump station to be demolished
The now defunct wastewater pump station and underground storage tanks in Albert Park, Te Awamutu will be demolished next week, following the installation of the new pump station nearby.
Waipā District Council began construction on the replacement pump station and three underground storage tanks in November 2019 to support the wastewater discharge which will now be received from Waikeria.
Council’s service delivery group manager Dawn Inglis said removing the old facility was another step closer to completing the Waikeria project.
“We completed commissioning the new facility at Albert Park in December 2020 which we are pleased to say has been running without issue since. Demolishing the old pump station and storage tanks is the last step prior to re-establishing the site and reinstating Pioneer Walkway to its original path.”
The upgrade is part of the Waikeria pipeline project which also involves the construction of a wastewater pump station at Waikeria Prison, and the installation of new wastewater pipes between the prison and Kihikihi, and pipes from Albert Park to the Te Awamutu Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The newly upgraded facility at Albert Park also included three large underground storage tanks which can hold up to 540,000L of wastewater in an emergency event.
A large section of the Millennium Sculpture Park, located next to the old pump station, will be fenced off for health and safety purposes while demolition takes place over February and March but access will be maintained to the dog exercise area beyond.
The Pioneer Walkway will remain open throughout the works for pedestrians and cyclists using the diversion that has been in place since work started in 2019.
Once the old pump station and tanks have been demolished, the Council will mulch the soil in preparation for sowing grass seed in the Autumn months.
More information about the Waikeria pipeline project can be found at the Council website: www.waipadc.govt.nz/waikeria.