A multimillion-dollar project to correct an outfall staining issue off the coast of Hawke’s Bay is almost complete. A final 500m piece of outfall pipe started an unusual sea voyage yesterday, to allow wood-processing company Pan Pac to finish the 2km extension of its outfall pipe at its Whirinaki pulp mill. The extension is made up of three 500m pieces, one 300m and one 200m. Pan Pac managing director Doug Ducker said the project cost more than $4m and would correct a situation that arose following the construction of a $20m treatment plant at the site in 2012, which resulted in water “staining” at sea. “It is a discolouration issue only, there are no issues with sediment or solids or anything of that nature – it’s strictly a colour matter.