Morningside flood relief

  • Project typeImprovement work
  • Project value$5.5 million ($3 million funded by Crown Infrastructure Fund)
  • Project scheduleJanuary 2025 to October 2025
  • Contractor nameUnited Civil
A photo of a car trapped in flood waters on a street in Morningside.

Flooding in Kaka Street in the Morningside area is having an impact on businesses, residents and the community.

At times, the flooding enters homes, cars and buildings, causing disruption and damage to roads. 

This project aims to significantly reduce flooding in the low-lying areas around Kaka Street. It is comprised of two stages:

Stage 1 – January to July 2025

This stage includes:

  • increased water storage in Rawhiti stream at the end of Rawhiti Street
  • installation of a new pump station to move water to Limeburners Channel faster
  • flood walls erected to help maximise channel capacity and speed up the flow of water
  • the pump station being built into a new precast concrete structure, which will act as the new walkway bridge, pump housing and flood wall.

Stage 2 – May to October 2025

Stage 2 sees the installation of a new system of pipework, also referred to as a ‘stormwater interceptor’.

This will collect stormwater runoff from the upper Morningside area and convey it directly into Limeburners Channel below the new pump station.

By constructing the interceptor, stormwater can be diverted away from low-lying properties around Morningside Sports Park and Kaka Street, reducing the volume of water that would otherwise accumulate and require pumping.

This stage involves: 

  • installation of two sets of stormwater piping from the end of Rawhiti Street (see the map below) 
  • one will cross the Whangārei Pipe Band Society carpark and Morningside Sports Park to Morningside Road and along towards Morningside School
  • the other will be laid along Rawhiti Street to the intersection at Jellicoe Street, and underneath private properties to Morningside Road.

Map showing the two stages of the Morningside flood relief project.

What to expect

Stage 1 of the project (January to July 2025) will include the closure of the footbridge and path between Rawhiti Street and Porowini Avenue, allowing for the safe installation of pumps in the Rawhiti stream. 

Pedestrians will be directed around to Kaka Street during construction (see the map below). 

Stage 2 (May to October 2025) will see traffic disruptions on Morningside Road, Rawhiti Street and Jellicoe Street. Construction will begin in the lowest-lying areas up to more elevated areas, and we will provide as much notice of any disruption as possible.  

We are also working directly with the Whangārei Pipe Band Society, Morningside Sports Park and several private residents, where piping will be dug underneath properties, to minimise disruption.

Pedestrian detour from January to July 2025

Morningside flooding map showing path closure and detour.

Location

Rawhiti Street, Morningside 0110  View Map

Google Map

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