Auckland’s next major wastewater tunnel project has reached a significant milestone, with a 56.5m-high tower crane installed to help construct the next phase.
The crane has been installed for Watercare’s NZ$260m Herne Bay Collector project, which will connect to the Central Interceptor and capture wet-weather overflows for treatment rather than allowing them to enter the Waitematā Harbour.
Ghella is delivering the 1.7km-long, 2.1m-diameter wastewater tunnel.
The project includes seven main shafts, three intermediate shafts and a seven-storey underground control chamber built in the 20m-deep shaft beneath Point Erin Park.
The chamber will connect the Herne Bay Collector to the northern end of the Central Interceptor and help direct wastewater flows for treatment during wet weather.
Watercare Waitematā water quality improvement programme director Morris Taylor said the crane would be critical to delivering the project.
“The control chamber will act as a gateway between the Herne Bay Collector and the Central Interceptor, helping direct wastewater and stormwater flows for treatment instead of allowing them to overflow into the harbour,” he said.
“The tower crane gives us the lifting capability we need to construct this infrastructure safely and efficiently. It will be used to lower reinforcing steel, formwork and other construction materials into the excavation as the chamber is built from the bottom up.”
It will also help install major pipes and precast concrete structures weighing up to 24 tonnes, reducing reliance on temporary mobile cranes while improving productivity and accessibility, reducing noise and vibration, and enhancing safety on site.
A Ghella Abergeldie joint venture began construction of the 16.2km-long Central Interceptor in 2019. It became fully operational in July this year.
