New filter screen installed

The upgrade of a part of the city’s infrastructure that contributed to severe flooding last year is nearing completion.

A new filter screen, estimated to cost $310,000, was installed at the Portobello Rd pumping station yesterday.

Installation work began in July.

The council attributed the severity of the June 2015 flood, 200mm above expected levels, to the screens not being able to cope with debris and becoming blocked.

Dunedin City Council plant operations and maintenance manager Chris Henderson said the new screen had an enhanced design that would improve stormwater management.

"The screen is much larger so it won’t get blocked easily.

"It is also on an incline, which is better for cleaning. Staff won’t have to drag up the debris at a vertical angle. Instead, the water pressure will push debris closer to the top of the screen, where it can be more easily reached and cleared."

Dunedin City Council infrastructure networks general manager Ruth Stokes in front of the new filter screen installed at the Portobello Rd pumping station yesterday. Photo: Gregor Richardson.

Council infrastructure networks general manager Ruth Stokes said she was comfortable with the time it had taken for the screen to be installed.

"We had to work on the technical design and confirm this was the right thing to do. It is long-term infrastructure."

Part of the process had been consulting the community about the design, she said.

All stormwater from the South Dunedin catchment area was piped to the pumping station.

The new screen would allow the pumping station to run at full capacity if another flood of last year’s magnitude occurred.

The screen would be fully installed by early next week.

The  project was scheduled for completion by mid-November, Mr Henderson said.