Rosedale tunnel boring machine to be unveiled in civic ceremony

The giant cutting edges of the largest tunnelling machine currently in New Zealand gets to work in North Shore City next month.

The $10 million tunnelling machine 'Amelia Rose' will disappear into a 45-metre deep shaft to start burrowing the longest tunnel ever to be dug in North Shore City – and never to appear again.

Before doing her disappearing act, Amelia Rose will be unveiled and can be seen, inspected and touched in a private ceremony on November 4, and then a public open day on November 9.

The official unveiling of the 'Amelia Rose' tunnel boring machine will take place on November 4, from 9:00-10:30am at the outfall site located at 6A Atlas Place in Mairangi Bay.

The event will be attended by His Worship Mayor Andrew Williams, Councillors, officials from the government and business community, and other invited guests.

A Maori blessing will take place, followed by speeches from representatives of two of the contracting teams, Roger McRae, GM of McConnell Dowell, and Dean Kimpton, Regional Director of Maunsell, as well as Mayor Williams.

"The new outfall is part of Council's Project CARE, a high priority for the North Shore and the environment during the last decade," says Williams. "This is a big step forward for our current residents and for coming generations."

The largest public project ever undertaken in North Shore, the outfall will discharge high-quality treated effluent from the Rosedale Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2.6km to the end of Mairangi Bay, then 2.8km out to sea into the Rangitoto Channel.

The entire length of the land-based portion will be tunnelled at least 25 metres underground. No noise or vibrations will be experience aboveground – ensuring that the project is not disruptive to residents or businesses.

"Tunnelling well below a large urban area with minimal disruption is a significant achievement," says Williams. "Combining advanced treatment plant operations with new technology and engineering makes this one of the best tunnels in the country."

Tunnelling is due to begin in late November and the project is scheduled to be completed by June 2010.

"Once completed, this project will be of immense benefit to the community," says John Cooper, Outfall Tunnel Project Manager for Maunsell. "It will protect the quality of North Shore beaches and bathing water whilst providing the capacity to future proof the system against the city's continued growth for many years to come."

In addition to the unveiling event, a public open day will be held at the outfall site on Sunday, November 9, between 10am-2pm.