Despite growing opposition, Auckland Council is going ahead with a $44million water quality improvement project, that will see diluted sewage pumped into the Waitematā, near the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

The current plan by Auckland Council's Healthy Waters is to build a 1.8 metre diameter underground pipe from London Street in St Marys Bay to Pt Erin.

From there the combined sewage and stormwater will be pumped to a larger mains sewer.

Herne Bay Residents Association co-chair and retired merchant banker Dirk Hudig is calling for the project be put on hold until an independent review is carried out.

"The reason for that is we believe the St Marys Bay, Herne Bay project could be improved and there could be money savings which could be used elsewhere."

"For a very temporary halt to the project if necessary to have this peer review we received no response from the Mayor but we did receive a response from the council offices to say this was unacceptable."