Tenders for Waitara-New Plymouth Pipeline Awarded

The tenders for constructing a sewer pipeline from Waitara to New Plymouth have been awarded – for little more than half the estimated price.

Taranaki Civil Construction Ltd has been contracted to build the 12.3km rising main from the Waitara Wastewater Treatment Plant to near The Links, and the 1.3km gravity main from The Links to the New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant (NPWWTP).

The $4.2 million contract price is well under the $7.4m estimate.

“What we’re seeing is the result of a very competitive market,” says Manager Projects Mark Hall. “The New Zealand Contractors’ Federation is seeing projects around the country being tendered for usually 30 per cent below engineers’ estimates right now.”

There was a lot of interest in both contracts, with five tenders for the gravity main and seven for the rising main.

Construction of the pipeline will begin in October in both Waitara and New Plymouth. The gravity main is scheduled to be completed about March next year, and the rising main by Christmas 2012.

Sewage will be able to be pumped from Waitara to New Plymouth for treatment after the NPWWTP is upgraded. NPDC is currently seeking a resource consent for this work.