16 May 2024

Wellington's Thorndon Quay business owners fear road upgrade woes far from over

From Nine To Noon, 9:25 am on 16 May 2024

Photo: Paul Robinson

Business owners on a Wellington road undergoing a multi-million dollar upgrade, fear it may need to be ripped up again if water leaks persist.

Thorndon Quay has faced months of disruption as $54.8m of bus lanes and cycleways are installed. But Wellington Water has accidentally released a draft memo from 2022, suggesting a stretch of pipework under the road should have been fixed at the same time.

The report says a stretch of three waters pipes needs $5.2m of "must do" maintenance. That work is not being done as part of the current upgrade.

Paul Robinson, who owns The Woolshed on Thorndon Quay, received the memo under an Official Information Act request. He has been raising the alarm of ongoing water issues with Wellington City Council, since late last year. Also Siobhan Procter is the chief infrastructure officer at Wellington City Council