Major work ready to start on Mt Albert sludge pipeline repair

The Team from Wellington Water

A temporary speed hump installed in Adelaide Road today signals the start of major repair works on the Mt Albert high-pressure sludge pipelines, following the arrival in Wellington of a team of specialist international technicians and essential materials and equipment.

Wellington Water’s Manager Major Projects, Stephen Wright, says the temporary change is a final part of preparations for repairing the pipes and ending the sludge trucking operations, between Moa Point and the Southern Landfill, that were put in place to avoid any discharge of sludge into the sea after the pipelines failed.

“Bringing the specialist team and materials here from Germany during the global pandemic and our own lockdown has been a real challenge. We’re extremely grateful to the Government for granting the special permission necessary to bring them here so quickly.”

On arrival in the country, the technicians spent 14 days in quarantine in Auckland before travelling on to Wellington, where they arrived last night.