Invercargill’s Stead Street Pump Station Opens, Boosting Flood Protection

• New Stead St pump station strengthens Invercargill’s flood protection, serving over 1,500 hectares.
• The project, supported by government investment, is vital for Invercargill Airport and local properties.
• New infrastructure enhances climate resilience and supports local biodiversity restoration efforts.

A new flood protection infrastructure, the Stead Street Pump Station, was officially opened today by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. This new station is set to bolster Invercargill’s ability to manage severe weather events, significantly enhancing flood resilience for the Invercargill Airport and nearby properties. Related: Southland Mayors Suggests Overhaul of Local Government Structure

The station, which has been co-funded with $5.1 million from the government and additional support from Environment Southland, aims to safeguard 1,556 hectares of land, protecting 116 properties and the Invercargill Airport, a crucial transport hub for the region. Invercargill Airport handles 320,000 passengers annually, along with freight services, making this infrastructure essential for maintaining Southland’s connectivity and productivity.

“The Coalition Government is focused on building infrastructure for growth and resilience, a key pillar of our economic strategy,” said Mr. Patterson during the opening ceremony. “Persistent underinvestment in resilience infrastructure is limiting our ability to respond to stresses and shocks when they happen and is holding us back from further development and growth, particularly in our regions.”

The Stead Street Pump Station complements the existing network of stopbanks, drains, and pumps in Invercargill, and is designed to protect the airport from flooding for at least the next 50 years. The airport has previously been affected by severe floods, notably in 1984, when the terminal was submerged under three metres of water, and again in 2016 when stormwater flooded the area, closing roads around the airport.

Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell highlighted the significance of this development, noting, “This marks a significant step in our commitment to enhancing flood protection infrastructure and improving resilience to climate change. It’s also a crucial part of our efforts to restore the health of the New River Estuary.”

The pump station, equipped with twin Archimedes screw pumps, also adheres to the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater introduced in 2020, ensuring safe passage for fish. Local native plantings further contribute to environmental protection efforts. The project has also spurred local employment, with 223 Southlanders involved in the construction to date.

The new infrastructure includes a transformer that has increased power capacity from 200kVA to 500kVA, ensuring that the pump station can operate continuously during power outages. This transformer is situated above the 1984 flood level, providing added protection for the airport and the Ōtātara community.