- Gore District Council approves directional drilling for Mataura River water project.
- Two pipelines to link bores, reservoir, and treatment plant using advanced drilling.
- $2.65 million project starts next year, set to finish by December.
The Gore District Council has endorsed the use of directional drilling technology to install water pipes beneath the Mataura River. This decision represents a major step forward in securing the community’s water supply, addressing a long-standing infrastructure challenge.
Directional drilling, a specialised technology, enables the creation of precise underground pathways for pipelines without disturbing the surface. This makes it particularly suitable for crossing natural and built obstacles like rivers and roads, reducing environmental impacts and increasing precision in challenging conditions.
The project involves installing two pipelines that will connect the Jacobstown bores and Hilbre Avenue reservoir to the East Gore water treatment plant. This critical upgrade follows a year of detailed geotechnical investigations and design work, which included rigorous assessments of risks and costs tied to the advanced drilling method.
As part of the preparation, Councillors observed the contractor’s equipment and techniques during a site visit to a similar project. This provided valuable insights into the tools, challenges, and risks involved in directional drilling.
Mayor Ben Bell expressed satisfaction at reaching this milestone after years of effort. “It is exciting to finally get the green light from the council and an outcome the community asked for,” he said. Mayor Bell acknowledged the significant planning and investment that went into ensuring this project will succeed, especially after previous attempts fell short.
The directional drilling phase of the project has an estimated cost of $2.65 million. Construction is slated to begin early in the new year and is expected to conclude by December.