The swallow main is the sewer pipe that travels next to and deep under the Maitai River. It is a vital connection from one side of the river to the other.

Being located next to our stunning Maitai River, we need to be extra careful when working in this area. The last thing we want is to cause any damage to this precious taonga.

The original swallow main was constructed in the 1960’s. Thankfully it was incredibly robust, but we need to make sure we can continue to service this pipe to prolong its lifespan.

There are two projects that will renew parts of this pipe. One is to replace the pipe alongside the river. The other project is to replace the chamber that connects the pipe running alongside the river, and the pipe that goes deep under the Maitai River.

This project will be highly visible and the work will cause disruption for users of the Maitai shared pathway. We will let everyone know when to expect work, and make sure appropriate detours and signage are in place to keep everyone safe.

Swallow main pipe replacement

This part of the project involves the realignment of approximately 150 metres of wastewater pipe alongside the Maitai River.

A section of this pipe was nearly exposed during the August 2022 floods around the footbridge over Maitai River. We need to carry out this work urgently to protect it from future weather events.