Stage two of a major project to improve the water supply and firefighting capacity in the Tararu area is now currently underway.

The Thames Coromandel District Council says over the next four months they will be working on the water main that runs from Dickson Street to the Tararu Cultural Centre.

A major project to improve the water supply and firefighting capabilities in the Tararu area will take place over the next four months. Photo: TCDC

As part of the works a 300 metre stretch of footpath from Thames to Tararu will be dug up.

But council is advising that while the water main is under the footpath and not the road, there will be a few weeks when the road will be down to one lane.

'[This is] because we'll need a buffer safety zone for workers and equipment,” says council. 'We'll let you know when we get to that point because there are a lot of factors that could influence the exact timing, such as ground conditions and rock under the footpath.”

Council adds: 'We'll also make sure pedestrian access will be maintained even when we close sections of footpath, and while we're at it, we'll use this time to replace the narrower stretch of footpath with a wider one.”

The project is worth just over $500,000 and the contract has been awarded to HEB Construction.

Tararu locals will still be able to access their properties throughout the works but there may be some temporary restriction to driveways when workers are trenching past certain properties.

HEB will notify affected locals personally the day before any restriction is put in place.

Council says the work will also involve the renewal of 1250m of watermain on Tararu Road/State Highway between Dickson Street (Moanataiari) and the Tararu Cultural Centre.

'During this time, we'll have to shut off the existing water main a few times, but we'll let you know before we do it if you will be affected by any restriction to your water.

'We'll also put updates and photos on our website as work progresses and send updates out through our free Thames and Roading eNewsletters.”

In addition to the watermain replacement, works include the replacement of 300m of wastewater rising main, and the footpath.

The existing wastewater and watermain are under the footpath, so 300m length of footpath needs to be removed to install the new pipelines on a narrow section of Tararu Road/State Highway.

For more information or if you have any questions about the project call the Thames-Coromandel District Council on 07-868-0200