CEO of Central Plains Water, Derek Crombie, has released a statement outlining the progress made on the large irrigation scheme taking place on New Zealand’s South Island.
According to the report an on-site construction office has been established and the construction team moved in.
Fulton Hogan / John Holland JV have cleared the construction corridor and started the major headrace contract earthworks.
Planned work in the coming months includes the completion of site clearing and tree removal along the Rakaia Tce (95% complete), survey and fencing, power line relocation, topsoil stripping (60% complete) and bulk earthworks on Te Pirita farms (620,000m2 or 25% excavated to date). New bridge foundations have also been started.
Downer and their main sub contractor Aquaduct are preparing to commence production of the pipes ready for laying. A new pipe manufacturing plant will be established to manufacture the larger diameter HDPE and it is anticipated that all pipe will be produced by January.
Aquaduct are importing two additional trenching machines from overseas so that they will be able to operate three worksites simultaneously. Pipe laying will commence in mid August and be completed by June 2015.
Soon over 150 contractor employees will be working on various sites throughout the Stage 1 area supported by up to 60 items of earthmoving equipment.
Stage 1 of the scheme is expected to be complete by September 2015.
Mr Crombie states:
‘Alongside this Stage I work, an enormous effort is going on behind the scenes. This includes the final discussions taking place with landowners regarding access for pipes and our on-going work in obtaining shareholder data in relation to existing land use, irrigation use, fertiliser application etc to assist us in building an accurate database of information as part of our submissions associated with the Land and Water Regional Plan hearings later in the year.
‘We are very mindful that a project of this magnitude will grow quickly and will have a noticeable impact on the area so we will be undertaking a series of stakeholder engagement initiatives to ensure that everyone including landowners, shareholders, residents, contractors and others involved in the construction are all aware of each other.’
