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National recognition for two major NPDC projects

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PUBLISHED: 12 FEB 2025
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Two of NPDC’s major infrastructure projects are finalists in the Aotearoa New Zealand Excellence Awards.

The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) has named last year’s repairs to Te Henui sewage pump station as a nominee in the Best Public Works Project Under $2m category.

Also in the 'under $2m' category as well as the Excellence in Environmental and Sustainability category is the removal of the broken low-head dam downstream from Lake Mangamahoe.

“The staff working on both of these projects overcame substantial challenges to get a successful outcome so it’s really pleasing to see their efforts recognised at a national level by their peers,” says NPDC Project Delivery Manager Sean Cressy.

“The nominations highlight the level of expertise we have working on behalf of our community.”

The pump station had developed a leak, which was contained within the building but needed to be fixed. The biggest challenge was to build a bypass so that the pump station would keep working during the repair works.

The team had just a four-hour window to install the bypass to avoid a sewage overflow to the sea, which required highly detailed planning and a marathon overnight effort. The planning was so successful that the work was completed with 20 minutes to spare.

At Lake Mangamahoe, the low-head dam was built in 1917 but never performed as expected and was replaced in 1931 by the dam that ultimately formed the lake. The low-head dam remained in place, and it deteriorated over the years, eventually causing streamside erosion.

“Removing a dam is a complex job because you’re working in a wet environment and you need to look after the river and land around it during the demolition work,” says Sean.

The project was in two phases: emergency repairs and upstream work to reinstate the river’s shape for safe fish passage and erosion control in 2022, then removal of the low-head dam and reinstatement of the river’s channel and the surrounding area in 2024.

The award winners will be announced on 1 March.

Fast facts

  • Each year, NPDC treats about eight million cubic metres of wastewater at the New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant – the equivalent of four billion 2L milk bottles.
  • NPDC looks after 1,600ha of park and reserve land.

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Page last updated: 11:40am Wed 12 February 2025

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