12 | Water education focus The Waiaroha Plant is open to the public with a focus on providing water education and cultural awareness. T T from page 10 Hastings District Council: Waiaroha Education Centre & Frimley Park REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT “The Frimley project involved a range of new water supply bores, new reticulation pipelines, construction of a water treatment plant and an 8-mega-litre storage reservoir. The project’s challenge was to find somewhere to construct large-scale infrastructure in a well-established urban environment, but near the existing source water. Public land was our first preference and we looked for around half a hectare that would allow us to build infrastructure.” Replete with trees well over 100 years old in the heart of Hastings, in a perverse way, Frimley Park offered the perfect location, providing a natural camouflage and making the water treatment plant infrastructure less conspicuous. “We found a lesser used section of the park that provided enough space without taking out too many trees, and we’ve placed a reasonable level of architectural flair on the treatment plant building itself so that it looks attractive within the park setting.” While Frimley was all about putting largescale infrastructure in a specific area near the water sources in the least confronting way, the design philosophy behind the Waiaroha plant tells quite a different story. The clue is in the name, Waiaroha — love for the water. “Located next to the HDC building, the Waiaroha project is very similar to Frimley in terms of work, but our philosophy was about making the whole project open and exposed so the public could see it. It was about showcasing all aspects of water.” Of a much higher architectural specification, 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’ve gone for an architectural colour but we’ve also put fins, lighting and architectural features on the tanks partly for beautification, and partly to display projected images and messages talking about all things water. 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? There’s also a significant building for the primary purpose of providing water education and cultural awareness.” Designed around a mountains-to-sea context, 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, mist curtains and sound will show the journey of water to the ocean. Waiaroha was the last piece in the Drinking Water Capital Upgrade programme to be completed and since its opening in October there has been significant visitation by schools in the area with phenomenal feedback. Graeme says that while first and foremost the project delivers safe drinking water and resilience it also serves to educate the public about water. “Ten years ago we thought we had an inexhaustible water resource. Now we know its limited both in terms of quality and quantity. Waiaroha was about raising awareness of source to tap of our most precious resource, talking about its journey and connecting those dots about where it comes from, what we do with it, how we treat it on its journey and who gets it. “You would be surprised how many people, both young and old, have not previously joined up those dots.” “... our philosophy was about making the whole project open and exposed so the public could see it. “ 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 | admin@baylisbros.co.nz | www.baylisbroswelldrillers.co.nz | | &
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