en.Wedoany.com Reported - Residents of Holloway Road, one of Wellington's oldest streets, have expressed frustration over Wellington Water pushing ahead with nearly a month of night construction despite opposition. The water supplier closed the road on Monday evening, working from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. to replace a nearly century-old sewage pipe.

Resident Malcolm Frazer said his concerns about noise and requests for alternative accommodation, raised with Wellington Water, have gone unanswered. He described Wellington Water's communication as "arrogant," with an attitude of "my way or the highway." Although residents advocated for daytime construction, Wellington Water confirmed the work would proceed at night.

A Wellington Water spokesperson said night construction balances reducing impact on residents, minimizing safety risks for workers and the community, and providing value for taxpayers. Switching to daytime construction while keeping the road open could double the project timeline and increase costs. The spokesperson noted that the pipe replacement on Holloway Road is part of the broader Aro Valley plan, with a budget exceeding one million New Zealand dollars. Contractors will use soundproof blankets to reduce equipment noise and monitor noise levels. The spokesperson encouraged residents to contact Wellington City Council if noise becomes excessive.

Resident Andrew Campbell, who has lived on Holloway Road for nearly 35 years, believes Wellington Water did not fully consider the street's narrow nature when deciding on night construction. He noted that the dead-end street, located at the bottom of a steep gully, is densely packed with houses, and sounds of students discussing drug deals two or three houses away echo through the street. Campbell said the street has a "legendary creepy vibe," with a hint of witchcraft. He joked half-seriously that workers might need to brace for some unexpected disruptions, perhaps finding some fun in it and adding to Holloway Road's lore.

Resident Derek Thunders said the initial notice was extremely short, making it hard to imagine Wellington Water would change plans, and the meeting outcome was "a foregone conclusion."

Resident Therese McCrea hoped the work would be done during the day or end earlier but agreed the pipes needed repair. She was shocked by the state of the capital's water infrastructure and said locals do not want to suffer flooding and sewage issues like those in Island Bay or Berhampore.

Geordie Rogers, city councillor for the Pukehīnau/Lambton ward, said he had "multiple times" tried to get Wellington Water to consider daytime construction, but night work has already begun. He believes residents deserve more information about the timing and location of noisy work and hopes Wellington Water will reset community engagement when it transitions to the Tiaki Wai water entity in July, listening to residents earlier before deciding on work content.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com