Appleby projects

Update March 2026

The first of two projects to improve the Redwood Valley water supply is gaining momentum.

Redwood Valley Rural Water Supply currently takes water from three shallow bores in the Redwood Valley/Waimea plains area, but due to changes in national water quality requirements, a permanent boil water notice was placed on the scheme last year. This was at the direction of the Water Services Authority because the current treatment plants can’t be guaranteed to remove all types of harmful microorganisms.

The project will bring together two water supplies in Redwood Valley into one, with a new Water Treatment Plant to be built on River Road.

Investigations have been done into the best treatment methods, as well as commissioning new bores. We did a survey of the current underground raw water pipe system in 2024 and then drilled two new bores to provide better raw water quality.

A $1.98 million tender has just been awarded for the replacement of the underground piping from the River Road bores to the existing treatment plants at Golden Hills Road and O’Connors Creek.

The consolidation of the two existing water treatment plants into a new one at River Road provides an opportunity to improve treatment to meet water quality requirements and allow the boil water notice to be removed. The two existing treatment plants will be modified into pump stations.

Work on the new five kilometres of underground pipes is expected to begin by July.

This project is to bring together two water supplies in the Redwood Valley into one, with a new Water Treatment Plant build on River Rd. This involves an investigation into the best treatment method, as well as commissioning new bores. We conducted a survey of the current underground raw water pipe system in 2024 and we then drilled two new bores to provide us with a better raw water quality enabling more efficient treatment.

Why are we doing this? 

• We want to continue meeting the NZ Drinking Water Standards.
• We want to improve the quality of the treated water using a more efficient treatment process. 
• We want to improve resilience of the system by replacing old pipes with new, larger pipes.
• The new raw water supply is also not as susceptible to adverse weather conditions. 

Phase 1: Installation of about 5km of underground piping, part of this in State Highway 60.

Phase 2: Construct Water Treatment Plant

The installation of a new Water Treatment Plant on River Rd, convert the two existing water treatment plants at O’Connors Creek and Golden Hills into Pump Stations, and upgrade the raw (untreated) water pipes from the new bores to the new Water Treatment Plant (WTP). This will begin in 2026 and will take about 16 months.

Contact: Email [email protected] for further information, reference 1188.

Pipe alignment indicative only in the map below.

The Lower Waimea River Wetland Enhancement Project aims to restore and create high-quality marsh bird habitat within a highly modified landscape. This initiative will focus on re-establishing ecological function and biodiversity by enhancing wetland features that support native bird species.

Given the complexity of the site and the need for adaptive management, the project will be delivered in carefully planned stages over several years. Each phase will build on ecological outcomes and community engagement, contributing to the long-term resilience and value of the Waimea River corridor.

Learn more about the Waimea River Park Development Plan

Contact: Email [email protected] for further information, reference 1686.