February 22 Christchurch earthquake devastation is stalling Tauranga's Southern Pipeline sewer project.

The Memorial Park end of the project is awaiting some corrugated plastic pipe manufactured by Frank PKS NZ Ltd's factory in Christchurch.

Pipes being made in Christchurch for Tauranga's Southern Pipeline. Photos: www.frankpksnz.com

The Bromley factory near the Port Hills was closed by the earthquake and the company is in the process of setting up at another site, says project manager for Tauranga City Council Richard Myers.

'It's thin-walled polyethylene with an exterior hoops system which gives it a certain amount of strength,” says Richard.

It's cheaper than solid walled poly pipe and is suitable for use on the gravity fed section dropping from 18th Avenue along Devonport Road to Memorial Park.

The manufacturers are in regular contact says Richard.

'My understanding is they have got a new factory, they have got their mandrills out of the old factory and were starting to do some test runs last week,” says Richard.

'It's not a quick fix to get these things settled because the tolerances are very tight for manufacture of course.”

General manager Bryan Wilson says the company has moved $6 million worth of heavy plant one kilometre across Christchurch to a new location and he's expecting to be operating next week,

'Two weeks ago I wouldn't have thought we would be back in action in a month. There are some very skilled people about who can perform when the pressure is on.”

Tauranga City Council decided to put the Memorial Park end of the project on hold while Frank PKS resumed manufacture because it doesn't delay the Downer contract, says Richard.

'That piece of work wasn't on a critical path as it were,” says Richard.

'If it was delayed they would still finish the whole job on time.

'Our hope is that by the end of next month we will have pipe and we will be able to get those sections finished.”