The overall project is to deliver 3 waters enabling infrastructure to unlock and enable a Housing Development Project in Pahiatua.

The enabling infrastructure that has been identified as requiring upgrade are the wastewater network, stormwater and a minor watermain extension. These upgrades have been identified due to the current pressures on the existing network, mainly wastewater & stormwater. As a result, the Kāinga Ora IAF enabling infrastructure agreement will allow the adjacent Kauri Place & Davidson Crescent to join the upgraded wastewater network to ease some of this current pressure. Within the agreement is also the ability to provide stormwater retention capability if possible.

Tararua District is growing at over 1% a year after many years of decline. The growth is gathering in pace and there is an acute shortage of rental housing and of new smaller quality houses that would meet demand. Pahiatua has seen the highest number of new houses consented in the last few years. The town is less than 30 minutes’ drive from Palmerston North and Massey University. Sitting astride State Highway 2 gives good access to the Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay, while the new Te Ahu a Turangi: Manawatu Tararua Highway will give easy access to the wider Manawatu.

The Hillcrest School site, and general vicinity has issues with wastewater, and this is the reason why the services need to be extended. The existing gravity mains are at capacity and require more expensive solutions to expand wastewater accommodation. A possible solution is a new shallow pressurised wastewater line that connects into the existing wastewater main at Main Street. This new pipe will be much closer to ground level than the existing gravity pipe.

Existing wastewater from Kauri Place and Davidson Crescent may also join into this new pressurised wastewater pipe, improving the level of service for these residents and reducing pressure on the existing gravity pipe currently servicing these areas.