Donald Street Emergency Sewer Repair

The sewer repair works on Donald Street are emergency works.

The temporary sewer bypass currently in place is designed to manage wastewater in the area on a short-term basis only. To minimise the risk of wastewater overflows upstream of the collapsed sewer main, we need to complete the emergency repair work as soon as possible so that wastewater in the area can be managed efficiently.

Additionally, Donald Street is an essential State Road that is critical within the Newcastle area. We need to complete the emergency repair work as soon as possible to help minimise disruption for road users, including heavy vehicles.

The emergency repair work involves road cutting and removing the road surface, and the use of heavy equipment for deep excavation. Trucks will need to pass through the work zone to collect excavated materials.

To ensure the excavated area is safe, sheet piling will be used to stabilise the excavation. Sheet piling is a construction technique where interlocking sheets of steel are driven into the ground to form a continuous barrier. This helps keep water out and the sides of the excavation stable. The process of driving the sheets into the ground is loud, and can produce some vibration.

Sheet piling will be carried out early in the works program, likely from Thursday 14 November to Saturday 16 November.

We will make every effort to minimise the impacts, where possible, by:

• turning off machinery and vehicles when not in use
• scheduling the noisiest activities during the day
• using acoustic barriers where suitable
• positioning noisy equipment and lighting towers as far away as possible
• using non-tonal reversing beepers on all machinery

Some people may be able to feel or perceive vibration at lower levels than would lead to damage. Vibration may also be noticed with glasses rattling in cupboards or cabinets, or similar things. You may wish to secure any loose valuables on shelves, picture rails or cupboards ahead of work starting.

Although vibration may cause some discomfort for a short time, generally the risk of structural impacts on your home is low. We have identified several properties, closest to the excavation area, where vibration is likely to be felt and arranged pre-construction property condition assessments ahead of work starting.

We will be carrying out onsite vibration monitoring to help ensure vibration levels remain within safe limits.

During the emergency work, there will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the safety of our workers and all road users including:

• full closure of Donald Street (westbound) between Lawson and Beaumont Streets
• partial closure of Donald Street (one lane open westbound) between Beaumont and Swan Streets, may cause delays.
• reduced speed limits and traffic control.

Please keep to speed limits and follow the direction of traffic controllers and signs. Road users are encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternative routes.

In late 2022, we engaged Eire Constructions to build a new sewer main under Donald Street, further east near Lawson Street, to help alleviate pinch-points in the network. The most recent break is unrelated to those works and needs to be repaired as soon as possible.