| 51 Taupo District Council & Fulton Hogan INFRASTRUCTURE Taupo upgrades bring long-term benefits Project manager Peter van Niekerk and Nadia Whyte of Fulton Hogan. T T Richard Loader The Taupo District Council (TDC) is carrying out proactive infrastructure upgrades along Lake Terrace, to ensure there is a safe, resilient water and wastewater network that can cope with increased demand and future development. “The Taupo District is growing and we want our infrastructure to grow with it,” says TDC’s infrastructure project manager Peter Van Niekerk. “There are subdivisions opening up to the south-east of Taupo township, and over the next 10 years there will be many new sections. The new wastewater system will complement the existing wastewater system, and avoid putting it under stress with the addition of new homes.” Lake Terrace travels from the Taupo CBD, along the lakefront and through the township. The installation of the 4.5km of wastewater main along Taupo’s lakefront enables a simpler, more resilient and easier to maintain system to be employed. This includes the upgrade of two existing pump stations to cope with current and future demands. A more complex pumped system would be required if the main was installed higher up, to the east of the residential areas. Such a system would require multiple pump stations, which would not only be significantly more expensive, but require extensive maintenance. To eliminate the risk of any existing drinking-water pipe failures during the construction of the wastewater main, and also to take the opportunity of Lake Terrace being under construction, TDC will also renew two-kilometre water mains along Lake Terrace and in some nearby streets. The $14 million project has been budgeted for in Taupo District Council’s Long-Term Plan. Design work for the new wastewater system was carried out by consulting engineers WSP, while Fulton Hogan were engaged as chief contractor, following a competitive tender process. “The project has been divided up into five phases working along Lake Terrace. The five phases are based on geographic sections with main roads coming laterally off Lake Terrace. Fulton Hogan have subcontracted Lakeland Excavators, and directional drilling specialist Universal Underground to undertake some of the pipe-thrusting work and open-trenching work. While the 400mm pipe can be thrust under the berms in some sections, that is not possible if there’s volcanic rock and a trench has to be dug. Because we’re a geothermal district, in some locations we’re using Aquatherm pipe that can withstand the heat we get from the land here.” While Lake Terrace presented the best option in terms of enabling the preferred wastewater system, Peter acknowledges that it is Taupo’s busiest road, and there is a significant impact to homes, businesses and motels. “There has been a lot of community engagement explaining the critical need for this infrastructure project. All communications go out under the banner of ‘Future Proofing the Place We Love’, so that people know it is something “All communications go out under the banner of ‘Future Proofing the Place We Love’, so that people know it is something we have undertaken for long-term resilience.” we have undertaken for long-term resilience. Traffic management is also a large component of this project, and that was subcontracted to Traffic Management New Zealand, who are doing a great job.” The project commenced in March this year with the final phase expected to be completed by Mid-December. NZWide • 0274 81 21 59 • neil@uul.co.nz Big or small • Talk to the experts • Horizontal Drilling • Pipe Jacking • Pipe Ramming • River Crossings & deep work a speciality
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