42 | Pipeline upgrade under way Stage one of the Branxholme Pipeline Upgrade was completed this year. Branxholme Pipeline Upgrade - Fulton Hogan CONTRACTING T T Karen Phelps www.csexcavating.co.nz Bulk Earthworks Lane Maintenance Gravel/rock needs Landscaping Trenching 3DGPSMachine Control Machinery available to suit your personal needs. Drainage Professionalism Guaranteed Call or email today for a free quote: Chester 027 201 6765 or nigel@cs-excavating.co.nz >ÌăÐÐ ǽ īķĊĴďĊ īÐ ĨīďķÌ Ĵď ìŒÐ ĨīďŒðÌÐÌ ĮÐīŒðÆÐĮ ĴìīďķæìďķĴ ĴìÐ wďķĴì AĮăĊÌ åďī ďŒÐī ųųŹ ÐīĮƫ Ð īÐ ÐŘĨÐīĴĮ ðĊ ÆďĉĨăÐŘ ðĊåīĮĴīķÆĴķīÐ ĊÌ ĴīÐĊÆìăÐĮĮ ðĊĮĴăăĴðďĊ ĉÐĴìďÌďăďæðÐĮƫ Ð ďœĊ ĮďĉÐ ďå ĴìÐ ĉďĮĴ ÌŒĊÆÐÌ ĉÆìðĊÐīř ðĊ UÐœ ¢ÐăĊÌ œìðÆì ÐĊÅăÐ ķĮ Ĵď ìĊÌăÐ ĴÐÆìĊðÆă ăīæÐ ĮÆăÐ ĨīďþÐÆĴĮƫ ĮĊðĨĨÐĴ ďå ĴìÐ ðĊåīĮĴīķÆĴķīÐ ĮÐīŒðÆÐĮ œÐ ĨīďŒðÌÐ īÐ ðÌÐĊĴðťÐÌ ÅÐăďœƮ ĮÐ ĴìÐ Zt ÆďÌÐ åďī ăðĊā Ĵď ďķī œÐÅĮðĴÐ ࢂ #ÐĮðæĊ ǽ 'ĊæðĊÐÐīðĊæ åďī #ÐĮðæĊ ǽ ķðăÌ ďĊĴīÆĴĮ ࢂ TŘð #ðīÐÆĴðďĊă #īðăăðĊæ ࢂ TŘð }īÐĊÆìðĊæ ࢂ qăďķæìðĊæ ࢂ qðĨÐ ăðĊðĊæ ࢂ OďĊæ #ðĮĴĊÆÐ ĉÐī ǽ qðĨÐ wÆĊĊðĊæ The first phase of critical infrastructure initiative, the Branxholme Pipeline Upgrade project, was successfully completed earlier this year, marking a significant milestone in the effort to ensure Invercargill and Bluff continue to have access to clean, safe drinking water. Invercargill relies on water drawn from the Ōreti River, which is supplied through pipelines installed in 1958. The aging pipeline, which has exceeded its natural lifespan, had experienced several major failures in recent years, necessitating urgent replacement. Fulton Hogan, the primary contractor responsible for this phase, has been pivotal in overcoming numerous technical challenges associated with the upgrade. “The contract concluded in March 2023, and we worked on the initial 3.6 kilometres, from the north end of Invercargill at Makarewa through to McIvor Road. Our primary task was to install a 630mm water main pipe,” says Dave Connell, Fulton Hogan’s Divisional Manager of Contracting. One of the foremost challenges faced during this phase was the depth of the installation. “We were generally working at about 2.5 metres deep, with some chambers being installed at depths of up to four metres. Additionally, the project involved two major drill shots under rivers – the Waikiwi Stream, with a 260 metre long drill shot, and the Waihōpai River, with a 160 metre long drill shot.” Fulton Hogan engaged a specialist drilling contractor Hadlee & Brunton, which has worked with on a number of complex jobs previously in Southland. Dave says it was vital to have this expertise for the multifaceted part of the project. “They punched a pilot hole with a specialist drilling rig and drill head that could be steered using sensors to maintain the design position. Once the pilot hole was done, they expand it using reaming heads, and then the pipe was inserted through,” explains Dave. Another major obstacle faced by the Fulton Hogan team was the location of the project, which served as the primary route into Invercargill from the north. Managing traffic control was a critical issue that required a careful approach to minimise disruptions to the community, says Dave. “The successful completion of this phase of the project shows that Fulton Hogan has the ability to resource up when required and knows how to bring in specialist technical expertise. It was about making sure we had the right people around us and was a real collaborative effort.” The ambitious project, scheduled for completion in late 2024, is expected to cost $27 million, with funding secured from the Invercargill City Council’s Long-term Plan and contributions from the central government. The new pipeline, made from polyethylene, is designed to last more than 100 years, ensuring a reliable supply of clean, safe drinking water for generations to come. Because the project is so large, the Branxholme Pipeline Upgrade has been broken down into several stages to minimise disruption to the community as much as possible. The second stage of the project is already underway and will replace more than 10 kilometres of pipeline, navigating various urban areas and industrial zones. Stage three is set to commence in 2024, continuing through the city centre, residential areas, and concluding at Myers Reserve.
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