16 | Tauranga City Council & Fulton Hogan - Opal Drive Wastewater Pump Station T T Lindy Andrews New pump station a major asset The critical infrastructure project includes earthworks to install the new pump station and storage tanks; pipeline realignments/construction in the road and stormwater reserve; construction of a generator and control buildings, and a biofilter for odour control. “This enables better planning of equipment placement, spatial requirements, and overall layout, leading to more efficient designs and improved workflows.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tauranga City Council’ s $34 million Opal Drive wastewater pump station will not only serve the needs of the city’s rapid growth, but also aims to serve as a masterclass in digitally advanced asset management for the future. The existing pump station – converted from an old wastewater treatment plant – is reaching the end of its life. Delivered by the council, lead designers WSP, contractors Fulton Hogan and engineer to the contract, Alta, the new asset is expected to be completed in mid- 2026. It will serve Pāpāmoa, Wairākei and the planned Te Tumu urban development. The critical infrastructure project includes earthworks to install the new pump station and storage tanks; pipeline realignments/construction in the road and stormwater reserve; construction of a generator and control buildings, and a biofilter for odour control. Two storm water culverts will also be built across Opal Drive where it crosses the storm water reserve. This work is being done at the same time as the pump station project to minimise disruption to the community. “The pump station will provide a reasonably substantial volume of storage – both operational and emergency, so that it will function during a power outage,” explains Richard Conning, council’s programme manager: delivery. Ben Drake, council’s design phase project manager, agrees, saying the pump station is also a flagship project for advanced asset management using building information modelling (BIM) and wise investment of ratepayer money. “BIM provides a comprehensive 3D representation of the pump station, allowing council staff and other stakeholders to visualise and optimise the design before construction begins. “This enables better planning of equipment placement, spatial requirements, and overall layout, leading to more efficient designs and improved workflows.” Real-time information sharing creates a collaborative environment that reduces the potential for misunderstandings, improves decision-making, and ensures that the entire project team is working with the most up-todate project data. BIM can streamline construction workflows, and reduces the potential for rework, while shortening project timelines, resulting in significant cost and time savings. Improved cost estimation and project scheduling accuracy further enhances efficiencies. Its simulation capabilities allow for better construction sequence planning and identification of potential safety hazards. Integrated data management BIM serves as a centralised database for all project information, including equipment specifications, maintenance schedules, asset attribution and operational data. Thanks to this capability, higher-quality outcomes, improved efficiency, and better longterm asset performance are assured. BIM also provides a platform from which the council in the future will be able to explore new technologies including automation, digital twins, augmented reality, and AI capabilities. The Opal Drive site is not without its challenges. Liquefiable soils have seen the council make considerable investment in the project’s resilience, with the wetwell designed to Importance Level 3 and the supporting infrastructure to Importance Level 2. “Stone columns will be placed under the buried storage tanks and ancillary buildings, including the generator building,” says Richard. “The columns are designed to help the soil resist liquefaction and lateral spreading. There has been a real drive to spend money wisely and the split importance level model allows that.” In the interests of future-proofing, the civil and structural designs provide for easy mechanical and electrical upgrades. For both Richard and Ben, the Opal Drive wastewater pump station is a career highlight, one that has allowed them to be stewards of creating better infrastructure outcomes, while making significant contributions to the community.
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