34 | Hastings District Council: Drainways - Frimley Park Karen Phelps Dual water projects worlds apart The front of the water treatment plant is glass, enabling the public to see the workings inside. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Two significant water projects underway by Hastings District Council are worlds apart in their approach. One has been designed to be hidden away. The other has been designed to be completely visible. The hope is that both will help educate and enliven the public discussion around water, says Council’s Director of Major Capital Projects Graeme Hansen. The Frimley project involves a range of new water supply bores, new reticulation pipelines, construction of a water treatment building and an 8-mega-litre storage reservoir. Graeme says that the challenge with such projects is to find somewhere to construct large-scale infrastructure in a well-established urban environment, but near the existing source water. Frimley Park is a premier park replete with trees well over 100 years old and has provided the perfect location, providing a natural camouflage and making the water treatment plant infrastructure less conspicuous. Combined with architectural flair on the treatment plant building and colours in keeping with the park itself the plant will blend into its surroundings. The project will be completed just before Christmas. Conversely the Waiaroha project, sits on an incredibly high profile site on Council-owned land on the corner of Southampton Street East and Hastings Street South. Graeme says the project was about showcasing all aspects of water and its primary purpose through water education and cultural awareness. The front of the water treatment plant is glass, enabling the public to see the workings inside, with signage and electronic information explaining the process at any given time. Water is stored in two 5-mega-litre steel bolted epoxy coated reservoirs, each 30 metres in diameter by 12 metres high. “We want to provide on-going education about water - things like why do we chlorinate, how much water comes out each day, how much water goes where?” says Graeme. “Most people turn on a tap but wouldn’t have a thought about where it’s come from. There are a whole range of aspects relating to water people simply don’t know about.” The Waiaroha project aims to change that. It’s the single biggest co-designed project undertaken with mana whenua representatives from Heretaunga who have been at the decision-making table from day one. Designed around a mountains-to-sea context through a te ao Māori lens, Waiaroha’s educational journey through the beautifully landscaped site starts at an elevated end depicting the mountains. A water source allows for the blessing of taonga and shows visitors pure water untouched straight from the ground, which flows down a stylised river system and into an amphitheatre beside the architecturally stylish education building. Education boards, lighting, WELL DRILLING EXPERTS FOR OVER 70 YEARS • Domestic and irrigation water wells • Bore services and development • Bore security • Camera inspections • Ground water surveying - SES • Full consultancy services available 06 844 2167 | steve@baylisbros.co.nz | www.baylisbroswelldrillers.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=