Major stormwater upgrade to begin in central Kaitāia

Meticulous planning is now complete for a five-month project to upgrade stormwater pipes in central Kaitāia, with work beginning on 9 July.

Far North Roading will carry out the work on behalf of the Far North District Council, making their way up a 500m stretch along Taaffe Street and down West Lane. The contractor will focus on one section at a time, digging up old pipes under the road that are failing, replacing them, and reinstating the road surface.

The way traffic is managed will vary depending on where work is taking place along the route. However, any closures and diversions will be marked clearly. The roading team has met with property owners and businesses to ensure they can access their premises, and that noise disruption is kept to a minimum.

Tanya Proctor, the council’s Head of Infrastructure, says it’s an ambitious project.

“This is a big job, involving deep excavations. It will improve the stormwater network capacity and significantly reduce the flooding of properties in the area. We appreciate that there will be disruption and are very grateful for people’s patience while this major project to improve Kaitāia’s infrastructure is underway.”

The team will first focus on a section in the Taaffe Street cul-de-sac [coloured red in the image] for around three weeks, before moving further up the road. It’s important to note that the project’s timeframes are dependent on weather.

Whether you’re walking or driving in the area, please take care to stay safe by keeping away from active works and following directions from our traffic management team.