Published: 21 August 2023

A $3 million project will see new water and sewer pipes installed beneath the seabed of Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet.

The 400+ metre lengths of plastic pipe will replace the existing 44-year-old steel ones that are nearing the end of their useful life. Eurobodalla Council’s manager of water and sewer Brett Corven said the work would use environmentally friendly techniques to minimise the environmental impact.

“The new pipes will be installed east of the Narooma Bridge, parallel to the existing pipes running between Mill Bay and Ken Rose Park,” Mr Corven said.

“We’ll use a rig that installs pipes using horizontal directional drilling, which means we only dig up ground at the ends of the pipeline to as we tunnel under the sea floor. While that’s underway, we’ll also weld the 12-metre lengths of poly to create pipes that can be pulled into place once the tunnels are ready.

“By replacing the old pipes we avoid potential environmental impacts and major water supply interruptions should they fail. We also gain efficiencies as water and waste travel more easily through the new 450-millimetre diameter high-density polyethylene pipes.

“These corrosion resistant new pipes have a 100-hundred-year lifespan, double that of the existing pipes. We are installing them ahead of adjacent new piling that comes with the planned Marine Rescue Facility upgrade and raised concerns for us with the old steel pipes.”

Mr Corven said Ken Rose Park, just south of the bridge, would be closed until work finishes, maybe as late as the end of November.

“This includes the car park, toilets, and path around the park. There will be no other impact on motorists. For seven weeks beginning Wednesday 23 August a longer section of shared path will be closed – from Ken Rose Park down toward the Narooma Pool. Pedestrians and cyclists will be diverted along paths adjacent to the Princes Highway and Bluewater Drive during this time,” he said.

“We’ll also have crew set up at Mill Bay but there should be no impact on car park users.”

The Council funded upgrade forms part of its Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy, providing Eurobodalla with robust water and sewer systems for future generations. For more information visit the Wagonga Inlet pipe crossings page.

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