RE ON VB OI RTOI CN SM E N T
On March 14, Watercare
and the Ghella
Abergeldie Joint
Venture celebrated
signing the contract to construct
Watercare’s Central Interceptor,
a $1.2 billion wastewater tunnel
with associated infrastructure.
Construction will start with site
works in August and the whole
project is expected to be completed
by 2025.
This 13-kilometre tunnel is a vital
infrastructure project for Auckland
and is part of Watercare’s wider
wastewater strategy to protect and
enhance the natural environment.
Watercare’s chief executive Raveen
Jaduram says that in older parts of
central Auckland, wastewater and
stormwater flow into a combined
network of pipes. When it rains,
stormwater overwhelms these
pipes, which are designed to
overflow into waterways.
“We want everyone to be able to
enjoy clean waterways, beaches
and estuaries – that’s why we’re
building the Central Interceptor. It
will run underground from Western
Springs to the Mangere Wastewater
Treatment, collecting wastewater
along the way via link sewers and
drop shafts.”
While the Central Interceptor is
being built, Watercare will deliver
further projects in the area such
as separating the stormwater and
wastewater pipes. The largest of
these projects is the Grey Lynn
wastewater tunnel which is a twokilometre
extension of the Central
Interceptor.
“We are delighted to announce
that the Grey Lynn wastewater
tunnel has been included in our
construction contract with Ghella
Abergeldie Joint Venture,” says
Jaduram. “This is an extremely good
outcome for Aucklanders because
it means a better result for the
environment without any extra cost
for customers. Together, the Central
Interceptor and our western isthmus
projects will reduce overflows in the
area by at least 80%.”
Watercare has a long history of
delivering large-scale and complex
projects. Back in 2005, the company
carried out the largest rehabilitation
project in New Zealand’s history
by removing the oxidation ponds
from the Manukau Harbour and
upgrading the Mangere Wastewater
Treatment Plant to improve the
quality of treated wastewater.
More recently, Watercare built a
large wastewater tunnel that runs
from Parnell to Orakei, referred
to as Project Hobson, using the
same tunnelling boring technique
that will be employed for the
Central Interceptor. This allowed
the removal of an old sewer that
bisected Hobson Bay and reduced
overflows.
Jaduram says the Central
Interceptor is Watercare’s largest
project to date: “Because it is a key
part of our region-wide wastewater
strategy, it was important to find
the best company in the world to
construct it. So after a vigorous
tender process we chose Ghella
Abergeldie Joint Venture with over
150 years’ experience working on
major tunnelling and wastewater
projects across the globe.”
New Zealand’s Ghella
representative, Francesco
Saibene, says: “We have been
very impressed with Watercare’s
process. They kept to the intended
timing, were clear with requirements
and the evaluation process. Plus,
the probity measures in place
were very robust. One key factor
was the extreme dedication and
professionalism Watercare has
demonstrated on the project. This
was an ideal situation for our joint
venture, which had an international
component that needed those
certainties.
“Of utmost importance for us is
that Watercare has much the same
values and vision as Ghella and
CLEANER
AUCKLAND
BEACHES AND
WATERWAYS
WITH NEW SUPER-SIZED
WASTEWATER TUNNEL
Abergeldie, creating an environment
where our joint venture can put the
same amount of dedication and
passion into this project, which
will leave a long-lasting legacy to
Auckland and its residents.”
Auckland mayor Phil Goff says, “The
central interceptor will help improve
Auckland’s water quality and cleanup
our beaches by reducing waste
water overflows in central Auckland.
“The central interceptor is one of
the most significant infrastructure
projects in our city. It will increase the
capacity of our wastewater system
to deal with population growth, help
protect our environment and ensure
Aucklanders can enjoy clean and
healthy beaches for generations to
come,” says Mr Goff.
48 April 2019