Stead Street pump station replacement
Environment Southland has replaced the Stead Street pump station with a modern, energy-efficient, and fish-friendly facility, Te Kupeka o Waimātaitai. This upgrade is critical for protecting Waihōpai Invercargill—Southland’s largest urban centre—and its nationally significant infrastructure, including Invercargill Airport, from flood risks.
Te Kupeka o Waimātaitai forms part of Waihōpai Invercargill’s comprehensive flood protection scheme. The upgrade was driven by the age and type of existing infrastructure (installed in the 1960s), climate resilience needs, and the aspirations of Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku to have the health of the Kōreti New River Estuary restored.
Project milestones
- Design and Construction: Began in late 2022, including construction of the pump station building and outlet pipes beneath Stead Streat, the installation of two new-generation pumps and completion of associated drainage works by mid-2024.
- Cultural Components: Mahi Toi elements designed and installed to reflect the aspirations of Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku and their cultural connection to place.
- Te Kupeka o Waimātaitai was officially opened on 16 August 2024.
Why this upgrade matters
Flooding has historically posed significant risks to Waihōpai Invercargill, with past events such as the extensive flooding in 1984 and storm surge incidents highlighting the need for robust defences. This upgrade addresses these risks, supporting climate resilience for the region and safeguarding community wellbeing.
Key benefits
- Enhanced flood protection for 116 properties in the immediate vicinity, local communities and Invercargill Airport.
- Two new fish-friendly Archimedes screw pumps that allow safe passage for valued mahika kai species, in line with the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater introduced in 2020.
- Twenty-seven kilometres of waterways that operate as the drainage network opened to safe fish passage.
- A new transformer to significantly boost capacity to 500kVA to power the new pumps, positioned above the 1984 flood level, providing greater protection for Invercargill Airport and a backup power supply to the Otatara Community.
- Delivered with co-funding from central government funding, reducing costs to ratepayers.
The design, fabrication and construction of the mahi toi (artistic elements), which adorn the front exterior of Te Kupeka o Waimātaitai, is a collaborative effort that builds on the Invercargill City Council (ICC) climate resilience project on Stead Street and Airport Avenue completed in 2023. They are a component of the broader cultural project called 'Te Ara Tūpuna'. This initiative features mana whenua interpretation panels along the Waihōpai Invercargill-to-Motupōhue Bluff multi-use trail, mapping the ancestral pathways known as Ara Tawhito that crisscross this region.
About the name: Waimātaitai refers to the mix of coastal sea and fresh waters that make up the brackish waters of an estuary. Kupeka is a long fishing net.
Looking ahead
Next steps include the decommissioning of the old pump station and the launch of a tuna/eel monitoring programme in 2025.
This project is a Resilient River Communities initiative and was a collaboration between Environment Southland and Kānoa – the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, Te Ao Mārama Inc. and Waihōpai Rūnaka Narratives Committee with support from Invercargill City Council.
By building resilient river communities, we aim to minimise the environmental, economic and social impacts of flooding, creating a safer Aotearoa New Zealand for everyone.
FAQs
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions on the Stead Street pump station replacement project here.
