The water, sewer and stormwater pipes between Black Street and Williams Street are getting to the end of their life expectancy and need to be swapped out for some brand-new ones – the gravity sewer main alone was installed in 1953.

While On Grade Drainage & Excavation Ltd are doing this work, they'll also be replacing all the buried Council services at the same time, to save us having to come back later.

Although this work is essential, we understand it is producing a lot of noise and vibration. So, we wanted to explain why that is.

Before our contractors can start digging a trench, they need to install sheet piles. Sheet piles are 8-metre-long steel columns that are driven into the ground and act like a retaining wall to support the trench.

There are only two methods for installing sheet piles for this type of deep trenching - either by using a large hammer to repeatedly ram them into the ground, or by vibrating them into the ground. The vibratory method is the mostly widely used and creates the least amount of impact to the environment. This is the technique our contractors are using.

There will also be a continuous low noise from dewatering pumps while the gravity sewer is being installed. This is due to the depth we need to install it at (up to 4 metres) and the shallow groundwater in this area.

Our contractors are on site between 7.30am - 5pm and this portion of the project is due to be completed by late March.

Although road closures are in place, the doors remain open to businesses in the immediate area, including the Kaiapoi Club and Coffee Culture.

The public carpark between Williams Street and Black Street is still open, and this can be accessed via Hilton Street.

More information   To learn more about this project and to keep track of its progress, view our public notice -  Raven Quay Water and Sewer Main Renewals.