Eastern Hills Reservoir Project
We're working with Hutt City Council on a proposal to build a new reservoir in Naenae/Fairfield to ensure Lower Hutt's water needs can be met.
If you have any questions about this work, please contact:
Wellington Water, 04 912 4400
Latest Updates
Submissions have now closed on the notice of requirement (NOR) for the new reservoir.
The public is now invited to have their say on the proposed new Eastern Hills water reservoir.
We have lodged a notice of requirement (NOR) with Hutt City Council for a new designation to construct and operate the new reservoir.
Why do we need a second reservoir?
Lower Hutt’s water supply network is vulnerable to disruption and needs to improve its water supply resilience.
Building a new reservoir will improve the resilience of Lower Hutt's water supply ensuring that water needs can be adequately met in the case of a significant earthquake or weather event. It will also reduce disruption on a day-to-day basis for network maintenance, repairs and upgrades and cater for Lower Hutt’s future growth needs.
What impacts will there be from noise, vibration, and truck movements?
What’s involved in installing the pipework that goes down the hillside to Balgownie Grove for the proposed stormwater outfall?
Will the earthworks mean public access limits for walkers and cyclists in the earthworks area?
How will Waiwhetu Stream be affected by the proposed run-off pipe from the reservoir?
How will safety on the roads be managed around the worksite with the increased truck movements in suburban roads?
How does this proposal fit with all the Three Waters reform process?
Aren’t the Eastern Hills a Significant Natural Area and what does that mean for the proposed reservoir?
What we're doing
We are proposing to build a new reservoir immediately behind the existing reservoir on Summit Road, Naenae. A delivery pipeline will also be built to distribute water to residents and businesses.
The proposed new reservoir is part of a long term programme of works that includes upgrades of the existing Naenae, Taita and Gracefield reservoirs to increase storage capacity and improve seismic resilience.
Why have we chosen this site?
Wellington Water investigated 28 possible sites for the proposed new reservoir. A site next to the current Naenae Reservoir on Summit Road, Fairfield, has been identified as the preferred location because:
- It is at the required elevation
- The existing reservoir infrastructure and road access offers efficiencies
- Undeveloped land is available to construct a reservoir and allow for landscaping to reduce visual impact
- It is located close to a developed access way
- No additional fault line crossings
- It provides better value for money than other options looked at
About the proposed reservoir
The new reservoir would be able to store 15 million litres of water, providing drinking water to more than 50,000 residents and improving access to safe drinking water following a major earthquake.
The preferred location is next to the existing Naenae Reservoir - an 11.3 million litre square reservoir that will be retained in service.
Building a new reservoir will require earthworks and vegetation clearance, all areas will be replanted with the exception of the access road through the site and around the perimeter of the reservoir. Taller planting will occur around the reservoir to help screen the visual impact.
- Storage volume of 15 million litres of water - (equivalent to six Olympic sized swimming pools), providing drinking water to more than 50,000 residents and improving access to safe drinking water following a major earthquake.
- 55 metres in diameter and 8 metres high.
- Substantial earthworks, in the realm of 60,000 cubic metres or more are needed to create a platform where the reservoir will be constructed.
- 2 – 3 year construction period.
- Delivery pipeline approximately 1 km long
The design process will be flexible to allow for innovation and efficiencies as we work through the detailed design and construct process.
All Updates
Submissions have now closed on the notice of requirement (NOR) for a new designation under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) to construct and operate the proposed new Eastern Hills water reservoir.
Hutt City Council is currently considering the submissions.
Wellington Water has lodged a notice of requirement (NOR) for a new designation under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) with
Hutt City Council to construct and operate the proposed new Eastern Hills water reservoir.
The Council has notified the application and the public has until Friday, 3 May 2024 to make a submission.
Come along to a community drop in-session to learn more about the project. Our team of experts will be there to have a chat and answer your questions ahead of submissions closing.
Tuesday 23 April, 4pm to 6:30pm
St Paul’s Church Hall, 76 Waiwhetu Road, Waterloo
We have lodged the Notice of Requirement (NOR) with Hutt City Council for a designation to construct and operate the proposed reservoir.
We are now waiting for the Council to publicly notify the NOR allowing residents and other interested parties to make submissions on the application.
We will hold a public drop-in session during the notification period allowing people to learn more about the project and have their questions answered by our experts.
We will provide details around this once the Council has notified the NOR.
To help inform design of the new Eastern Hills Reservoir project, we want to better understand the impacts this project may have on people and their way of life.
We'd love to hear from you if have some thoughts to share - especially if you're from the local community of Naenae and Fairfield suburbs.
Please let us know by completing this online survey
Your feedback helps inform development of the resource consent for the project. We expect to lodge consent applications later this year.
Also check out FAQs based on community feedback about the proposal - under the Background menu!
Drop-in session 1: 5.30pm – 7.30pm, Thursday 9 March
Drop-in session 2: 9am – 12pm, Saturday 11 March
Where: CoCo Pop Up Community Space, 11 Hillary Court, Naenae
Come and find out more about the proposed new reservoir and resource consent
Can’t make it to our drop-in sessions? Send us your feedback or ask us a question.
Please email: NaenaeReservoirProject@wellingtonwater.co.nz