Our $5 million project to upgrade a major sewer running through a 750-metre tunnel between Torbay and Browns Bay will start in the next few days.

The work will see the existing 40-year-old sewer, which is corroded and running at capacity, replaced with a larger pipe.

Most of the work will take place deep underground with access to the tunnel via portals at the southern end of Waiake Reserve and the northern end of Manly Esplanade. Construction sites are being set up at these portals for the duration of the project.

Construction areas will be reinstated to their original condition at the end of the project including the replacement of a small Pohutukawa tree in Manly Esplande. The sea wall at the southern end of Waiake Beach will also be restored.

We will be minimising disruption wherever possible, but some parking spaces will be unavailable during the project and there will be some noise and additional traffic movements around the site. Construction hours will be 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 4pm on Saturday.

The project is part of Project CARE, which aims to reduce wet weather sewage overflows and improve beach water quality. It will take about a year to complete.