More than 3km of old wastewater pipes in Bothamley Park have been replaced with larger, more resilient infrastructure, in a project aimed at protecting the Kenepuru Stream and Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour. Now completed in early 2025, the upgrade is expected to prevent up to 40,000 cubic metres of raw sewage from polluting local waterways each year.
The project began in December 2022 and is part of Te Rā Nui – Eastern Porirua Development, a partnership between Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Porirua City Council, and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira. The new pipes, nearly a metre wide, are double the size of the old system and have been designed to serve current and future generations.
Porirua City Mayor Anita Baker praised the collaborative effort that saw the upgrade through to completion.
“For Council, it’s part of the wider upgrade of our major strategic assets, along with the wastewater storage tank being built near the railway station and the new drinking water pipes being laid along Waitangirua Link Rd,” said Mayor Baker. “All this work will help protect our harbour, improve our environment and increase our resilience during events like earthquakes.”
Te Rā Nui Project Director Will Pennington noted that the project also offered the chance to improve recreational facilities in Bothamley Park.
“The network upgrade created opportunities to enhance Bothamley Park and there are now fewer visible pipes,” Pennington said. “Around 1.8km of walking and cycling track has been resurfaced, more native plants added, and the Champion St carpark resealed.”
The infrastructure improvements have also led to visible upgrades in Bothamley Park, including resurfaced walking and cycling tracks, additional native planting, and a resealed carpark. With the new pipe system in place, council staff say the city is better prepared to handle wastewater demands while reducing the risk of environmental contamination.