First Section Of Branxholme Pipeline Now Operational

• Clean drinking water now flows through the northern section of Branxholme Pipeline Upgrade.
• Invercargill project strengthens water supply resilience with progress on critical pipeline work.
• Pipeline completion expected soon with continued work in southern Invercargill areas.

The northern section of the Branxholme Pipeline Upgrade is now operational, delivering clean drinking water to the Invercargill area. Last month, engineers activated the section of the pipeline from Pomona Road to Myers Reserve, linking it to the Waikiwi Reservoir. This marks a significant milestone in the project, aimed at providing a secure and reliable water supply for both Invercargill and Bluff.

Following the completion of the Waikiwi Reservoir connection, road closures and traffic management on Pomona Road West have come to an end. Invercargill City Council Programme Director Lee Butcher hailed the link-in as a critical achievement in the long-term infrastructure upgrade.

“With this link-in, we have now effectively ensured a resilient water supply to the Waikiwi Reservoir, and as the project progresses all the way to the central water reservoirs, we will continue to strengthen that resilience,” Butcher said.

He added that when the project is completed, the older, unreliable pipeline will be decommissioned, reducing the risk of future water disruptions. Despite several challenges, including poor ground conditions and navigating underground obstacles, the project remains on schedule.

“We have encountered some challenges, such as the soft ground conditions,” Butcher said. “The project team has successfully dealt with many challenges to keep the project on track.”

With 7.6km of the 10km pipeline now installed, work continues on the southern section. Crews are focusing on areas such as Gimblett Street, Thomsons Bush, Myers Reserve, River Street, and Russell Street. Work will soon commence at Gala Street to connect the pipeline to the main water reservoirs at the city’s water tower.

“We're doing this preliminary work now to take advantage of lower water demands during spring, thus avoiding disruptions during the higher water demand of summer,” Butcher explained. The ongoing works are expected to last two weeks, with traffic management in place to minimise inconvenience to residents.

The Branxholme Pipeline Project is a major infrastructure initiative by Invercargill City Council, replacing the ageing water supply system installed in 1958. When completed, the 10km pipeline will run from the Ōreti River at the Branxholme Water Treatment Plant to the Water Tower on Gala Street, improving water reliability for the region.