28 | Dunedin City Council: 3 Waters treatment plants T T Karen Phelps Working together side by side pays off One of the key benefits has been leveraging off the expertise of McConnell Dowell in live, brownfield, water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Dunedin City Council is undertaking the largest upgrade it has ever commissioned to its water treatment and wastewater plants. For this programme Dunedin City Council decided that a contractor-led model, where the contractor assumes design and construction responsibility, was the best way to successfully deliver this comprehensive programme. After an interactive procurement process, McConnell Dowell has secured the head contractor role on the estimated $140m contract spanning approximately eight years. Dunedin City Council procurement and contracts manager Serge Kolman says it was the experience of council group manager for 3 Waters David Ward that introduced the idea of a contractor-led engagement for this complex programme. David has previously worked for Watercare in Auckland and been involved in similar projects. “Typically we would undertake a traditional process where we would design something then go to market. In this case McConnell Dowell is the lead. We tell them what we want and they sort the design and take responsibility for the whole work,” explains Serge. “McConnell Dowell has been involved on the network renewals in Dunedin and done extremely well. It’s been a very positive relationship so they were a good choice,” adds Dunedin City Council senior procurement advisor Dave Wish. Both say one of the key benefits has been leveraging off the expertise of McConnell Dowell in live, brownfield, water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants. “Teaming up with design partners Stantec New Zealand and Lutra, as an experienced contractor McConnell Dowell have a lot to add in the design phase,” says Serge. David agrees, adding: “These are live, operating treatment plants and need to be kept operational while these projects are being undertaken so McConnell Dowell’s experience in working on similar projects is really key in ensuring the projects are delivered successfully. For example regarding some of the minor works we can rely on the experience of McConnell Dowell in working in similar plants on a design and build basis rather than getting a design down for these aspects and going to market. It will make these aspects more time and cost-effective.” Both agree collaboration is a cornerstone of success for the projects. A daylong workshop ensured the relationship was well defined and ensured buy-in to the process. “A strong relationship is essential, working together side by side in these types of contractor-led arrangements,” says Serge. “We have been undertaking planning work around which projects need to be prioritised. We have an in-house programme manager and so does McConnell Dowell and they are working together on generating a programme for approval by the project steering group put in place formed from members of Dunedin City Council and McConnell Dowell.” “It’s about a true partnership approach between Dunedin City Council and McConnell Dowell,” adds David. “It’s been a very collaborative process thus far.” McConnell Dowell is also one of three contractors assisting Dunedin City Council to renew, replace and upgrade various 3 Waters infrastructure throughout Dunedin City and it’s wider area including drinking water, wastewater (foul sewer) and stormwater pipes. Serge says this upgrade of the networks will work hand in hand with the treatment plant upgrades. The whole process was kick started by a capability assessment report completed in 2020 that identified issues across the network. The council covers 3340kms square kilometres from north of Waikouaiti to the Taieri River in the south and inland to Hyde. The Dunedin City Council water system includes 21,000 hectares of water catchment, six operational water treatment plants, 57 storage reservoirs, 35 pumping stations and 1450km of pipes. The Dunedin City Council collects, treats and disposes of the city’s wastewater. The wastewater network comprises 901km of pipes, 76 reticulation pumping stations, 130 domestic pumping stations and 7 wastewater treatment plants. “3 Waters play a key role in making Dunedin a sustainable, resilient city and support a prosperous and diverse economy,” says Serge. “It’s about ensuring that the water network is serviceable and fit for use.”
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