The Lyttelton Harbour wastewater project will connect the harbour's wastewater to the main Christchurch system. To do this, we're building pump stations around Lyttelton Harbour and installing a wastewater pipeline through the Heathcote Valley.

Lyttelton Harbour

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The Lyttelton Harbour wastewater project will end the routine discharge of treated wastewater into the harbour, an important environmental milestone for our city.

There's a lot of work be done above and below the ground to connect the Lyttelton Harbour's wastewater to the main Christchurch system. To do this, we're converting treatment plants and building pump stations around Lyttleton Harbour and installing a wastewater pipeline through the Heathcote Valley.

Currently, wastewater from Lyttelton Harbour is fully treated at wastewater treatment plants in each of the townships before being discharged through outfall pipelines into Lyttleton Harbour. The target is to have all planned discharges of wastewater to the harbour end by 2021.

The $53 million project is being constructed in four stages and involves the installation of submarine pipes under the ocean floor to transport wastewater from Diamond Harbour and Governors Bay wastewater treatment plants to a new pump station on Simeon Quay in Lyttelton.

Wastewater will then be pumped through Tunnel Road and the new Heathcote Valley pipeline and connect to the Christchurch wastewater treatment plant via an existing pump station in Woolston.

Work is now underway on phase three and phase four of the four-stage project. The entire project is planned for completion and commissioning by late 2020.

The Lyttelton Harbour wastewater project is part of the Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour Plan to restore the cultural and ecological health of Lyttelton Harbour.

Read our February newsletter(external link) for the latest updates on the Lyttelton Harbour Wastewater Project.

The four construction phases of the project

Lyttelton Harbour Wastewater Project master map 003

Construction of the Lyttelton Harbour wastewater project is being carried out across four phases. Learn more about the different work involved. We'll commission the new wastewater network once all phases are complete. This is currently planned for late 2020.

Phase one

A fibreglass pipeline has been installed above the Lyttelton tunnel to transport wastewater from Lyttelton. This work was carried out in conjunction with NZTA’s fire protection upgrade work on the tunnel. 

Phase two

Submarine pipelines were buried approximately one metre under the seabed to transport untreated wastewater from the Governors Bay and Diamond Harbour wastewater treatment plants to Naval Point in Lyttelton. New underground pipes were installed to connect the Lyttelton wastewater treatment plant to the Simeon Quay pump station and the pump station to the Lyttelton tunnel wastewater pipe.

Phase three

We’ve built pump stations at the Governors Bay, Diamond Harbour and Lyttelton (Cashin Quay) wastewater treatment plants. We are now testing and commissioning these pump stations, as well as constructing a new pump station at Simeon Quay in Lyttelton. Work on this phase started in July 2018 and is expected to be complete by October 2020, not early 2020 as previously planned. This is because we've redesigned the Simeon Quay pump station and added features to improve safety and efficiency.

Phase four

This phase involves installation of an underground pipeline connecting the Lyttelton wastewater system to the Christchurch Wastewater system via Heathcote and Woolston. 

The Heathcote Valley pipeline will run from the Heathcote side of Tunnel Road, under Bridle Path Road and through Port Hills Road to Mauger Drive and Scruttons Road, under the paddocks parallel to Tunnel Road, under the Heathcote River and connecting to the Woolston pump station in Alport Place. 

From there the wastewater will be pumped through to the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bromley. Construction on this final phase started in March 2019 and we plan to finish this work in early 2020. 

Map of the Heathcote Valley Pipeline

Project background

In 2009 the Council approved a joint working party's recommendation to pump untreated wastewater from Lyttelton, Governors Bay and Diamond Harbour plants through the Lyttelton road tunnel to the Christchurch wastewater treatment plant(external link) in Bromley.

The target is to end all routine discharges of wastewater to Lyttelton Harbour by 2021.

Consultation

Consultation on the scheme took place from 16 September to 12 October 2015 and public drop-in sessions were held in Diamond Harbour on 23 September 2015 and in Lyttelton on 24 September 2015 and 3 March 2016.

During the consultation period 44 submissions were received.

Responses were analysed and public feedback, together with other aspects such as cultural impact, environmental impact, cost, time and ease of construction, were used to support resource consent applications lodged with Environment Canterbury and the Council on 31 March 2016.   The resource consents were granted in October 2016.

Based on consultation feedback, we are burying submarine pipelines approximately one metre under the seabed to transport untreated wastewater from the Diamond Harbour and Governors Bay Wastewater Treatment Plants to Lyttelton. Wastewater will then then be pumped to the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant through the road tunnel via a new pump station at Simeon Quay in Lyttelton.

An overland road option for the Governors Bay pipeline was discarded as a result of the public consultation. 

Monthly newsletters

Check out the latest updates on the Lyttelton Harbour wastewater project. We distribute newsletters and start work notices throughout the project. 

Newsletters

News

22 January 2020

Tunnel drilling for Lyttelton Harbour wastewater project delayed(external link)

Plans to drill a tunnel underneath the Heathcote River and Ferry Road roundabout to install a wastewater pipeline have been delayed a month because the specialist equipment needed for the project is tied up on the West Coast.

6 December 2019

Tunnel drilling under Heathcote River early in new year(external link)

A 535-metre pipeline will be pulled through the tunnel under the river and the Ferry Road roundabout by a method called directional drilling.

29 July 2019

Governors Bay walking track temporarily closing(external link)

Part of a popular walking track along the Governors Bay foreshore will be closed weekdays for the next two months.

14 May 2019

Governors Bay pump station now online(external link)

Lyttelton Harbour is a step closer to being a healthier place to swim and fish since the routine discharge of treated wastewater from Governors Bay has ended.

16 April 2019

 Lyttelton Harbour wastewater project digs into final phase(external link)

Work is under way on the final phase of the $53 million Lyttelton Harbour Wastewater Project through Heathcote and Woolston.

5 March 2019

 Lyttelton wastewater project work pumps up(external link)

Work on a $53 million project to upgrade wastewater services in the Lyttelton harbour area is moving to a crucial phase, with work under way on a new pump station at Simeon Quay.

20 August 2018

 Lyttelton Harbour pipeline goes submarine(external link)

A project aimed at improving water quality in Lyttelton Harbour is moving into the first marine stage of construction.

07 June 2018

Tunnel lane closures as pipe work powers up(external link)

The big dig is under way as portside trenching work gears up for the construction of submarine pipelines to carry wastewater from Governors Bay and Diamond Harbour to Lyttelton.

14 February 2018

Lyttelton Harbour pipeline project gets blessing(external link)

Local iwi have carried out a blessing ahead of a construction project aimed at improving water quality in Lyttelton Harbour.