Untreated, unscreened wastewater has been discharged into Tarakena Bay. Check LAWA.org.nz before visiting beaches.
Untreated, unscreened wastewater has been discharged into Tarakena Bay. Check LAWA.org.nz before visiting beaches.

Between approximately 8 am on 25 June and 7 am on 26 June, the short outfall pipe discharged untreated wastewater into Tarakena Bay.

Signs are in place along the coastline to alert water users of areas which may be impacted by this event. Water quality samples will be collected from coastal locations once improved weather conditions allow. 

Check LAWA.org.nz before visiting beaches along the south coast. 

Public health information can be found on Health NZ's website. 
Wellington Water crews responding to wastewater overflow on State Highway 2
Wellington Water crews responding to wastewater overflow on State Highway 2

Our team is responding to a wastewater overflow on State Highway 2 which has stopped this afternoon. The overflow was from a manhole on the southbound lanes close to the Ngauranga exit, discharging into the habour through the stormwater drains.

While the overflow has stopped, our teams are working to clear a blockage which still remains. They are working at pace to identify the blockage and get this cleared. 

One southbound lane clasure remains in place approaching Ngauranga while work is underway.
pipe picture
Projects / Cole Grove Wastewater Renewal

Cole Grove Wastewater Renewal

Overview
Current status
Background
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Contact:

If you have any questions about this work, please contact:

Wellington Water, 04 912 4400

Some of the wastewater (sewerage) pipes along Cole Grove and Bentinick Street in Wallaceville, Upper Hutt need to be replaced because of their age (mostly installed in the 1960’s) and condition. 

We will soon start work replacing a section of pipe along part of Bentinick Street and through private properties close to Cole Grove.  

We expect work to start on replacing the wastewater pipe from around February 2026.

We are in the process of speaking with home owners to discuss what the work will involve and private property access requirements etc.  

 

Some of the wastewater (sewerage) pipes along Cole Grove and Bentinick Street in Upper Hutt are ageing (constructed in the 1960s), in poor condition and need to be replaced (five sections in total).    

A CCTV investigation in March 2019 raised the risk of pipe collapse given the condition of the pipes. 

In January 2025, we investigated the condition of the pipes, using CCTV footage. This helps inform how we’ll approach fixing the pipes (i.e. whether a full pipe replacement is necessary or an alternative option is suitable).  

We will use trenchless technology where possible to minimise the impact on residents (rather than open trenching). There will be excavation points where we will need to fix pipe dips and connections of the main to the laterals. 

The pipes serve 18 residential properties, and the recommended length of pipe to be replaced is 240m. 

There are various ways to fix the pipes, either via relining, or pipe bursting or trenching. We will use trenchless technology through either relining or pipe bursting. 

The new pipes will be seismically resilient and have a 100-year lifespan.  

We’re currently in the Detailed Design phase, with construction expected to start in 2026.