A $100,000 pump capable of moving 1500 litres of water per second is in place near the Kaituna Wildlife Management Reserve as part of the Tauranga Eastern Link project.

A crane lowers the pump into its new home.

NZ Transport Agency's principal project manager Andrew Scott says the new pump is important to Tauranga Eastern Link's storm water mitigation plan.

It will remove extra run off created by the larger road surface of the new highway.

'The massive pump was manufactured in Germany to meet exacting local requirements and will be used in addition to the three existing pumps on site,” says Scott.

'It will also provide extra capacity to reduce the flood risk in the area.”

The $1.1 million project is one of seven Tauranga Eastern Link support projects brought forward to boost the local economy and prepare the way for the main construction contract.

The project got underway in October last year and included building new inlet and outlet structures to house the huge pump.

The pump will be commissioned next week and the project will be completely finished the week after.

Ownership of the new pump will then transfer to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, which manages the pump station as part of the region's flood control scheme.