Business Central September 2021

16 | Hastings District Council: Frimley Park & Wairoha Water Plant Upgrades New plants to tackle water safety T T from page 14 DEVELOPMENT 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 hugh@baylisbros.co.nz www.baylisbroswelldrillers.co.nz Frimley Park is replete with trees well over 100 years old and in a perverse way they provided the perfect location, providing a natural cam- ouflage 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. In addition, 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 the reservoir is large — 38metres in diameter and 14metres high the project team elected for a dark blue-grey architectural colour making the tank recessive in an already shaded area of the park. While Frimley was all about putting large- scale infrastructure in a specific area near the water sources in the least confronting way, the design philosophy behind the Waiaroha site tells quite a different story. The clue is in the name, Waiaroha - love for the water. “Located next to the Hastings District Coun- cil building, the Eastbourne/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 ex- plaining the process at any given time. Water is stored in two 5-mega-litre steel bolted epoxy coated reservoirs, each 30 me- tres 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 but also to display projected images and mes- sages talking about all things water. “We want to provide on-going education about water — things like why do we chlo- rinate, how much water comes out each day, how much water goes where? “There’s also a significant education building, which is there for anyone to use but its primary purpose is water education and cultural awareness.” Designed around a mountains-to-sea con- text, 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. Graeme says 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 inex- haustible water resource. Now we know its limited both in terms of quality and quantity.” The water treatment projects at Frimley Park and the Waiaroha plant, form a significant share of the Hastings District Council’s $85 million drinking water capital upgrade.