Following recent watermain failures on High Street, which have caused flooding and disrupted local businesses, Council has decided to upgrade the DN200mm watermain between King Street and Ashley Street. This work is being undertaken to improve reliability and reduce the risk of future disruptions like those recently experienced.

Construction is not scheduled to begin until early 2027. However, to ensure we choose the best approach and minimise disruption, some early investigative work will take place from April. This will involve minor excavations and may result in temporary traffic impacts.

Once we have a clearer understanding of the preferred design and construction methods, Council will carry out further consultation with affected businesses.

The work will include

• Upgrade of DN200mm pipe to DN300mm pipe along High Street extending from King Street to Ashley Street.
• Installation of a submain to supply water connections to the business along the route.
• Upgrade of the connecting watermains.

Timing of work

Council intends to commence preparatory works as soon as practical. These works will include ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) surveys of existing services and targeted potholing to support detailed design activities.

Construction is currently anticipated to take place between January and June 2027, subject to final design, approvals, contractors’ availability and site conditions.

How the work may affect you

Construction works will involve installing new pipework and associated infrastructure under the road and, in some locations, the footpaths. We acknowledge that these works may cause temporary disruption to your business, including construction noise, reduced accessibility, and traffic disruption. Council will make every effort to minimise these impacts where practical and will aim to carry out the works in the most efficient manner possible to reduce the overall duration and level of disruption.

Traffic impacts

We will have appropriate traffic management in place for each separate portion of the site. It may be that we have to close roads on occasion, as well as closing road lanes, restrict access to parking or close footpaths at various times during the work. Once detailed planning of the work schedule has been completed, we will be back in touch with more detail.

General impacts

Kerbside collections

Your kerbside collections will remain unchanged. Please ensure your bag or bins are in their usual spot on collection day.

Essential services

There will be no planned disruption to your wastewater, telephone or power services. However, there will be some disruption to your water supply while we do both the investigation and the construction work. Specific water shut down notices will be issued to inform you when these take place.

Notice of changes in traffic management

We will do our best to give you enough notice to adjust to any changes in traffic management, please keep an eye out for more updates.

Hours

All work will be undertaken Monday to Saturday between 7.30am and 6pm. However, some of the investigation and water shut‑down work will be undertaken overnight so as to minimise disruption.

Weather

In the event of bad weather or for unforeseen circumstances, the work may be delayed.

Safety

Please warn your children of the dangers posed by road works. Ensure that they stay well back from the work site and they follow the directions of the workers.

Noise and dirt

Road work is a noisy, dirty business — but please bear with us. We will be doing all we can to minimise the impact on your home/business. Your cooperation and patience will help us get the job done as quickly as possible.

Easy does it

Bitumen, concrete and other road repair materials require a bit of care after they are applied. Please treat all new surfaces with extra care following the completion of this project.

Thank you for your patience while we complete this work.

For more information please contact

Sristy Malla
Senior Projects Engineer

Waimakariri District Council
Phone: 0800 965 468
Mobile: 027 263 9210
Email: sristy.malla@wmk.govt.nz