All go for $39.5m wastewater project

The upgrade of Gisborne’s wastewater system is about to begin, at a cost of $39.5m.

Council last week let more than $26m in tenders, the largest – $21m – to Auckland-based HEB Construction Ltd to build the new wastewater treatment plant at Banks Street and associated industrial separation scheme.

The total cost of the upgrade includes land, UV disinfection, equipment including the media for the biological trickling filter, and consultancy fees.

The project will be led out of Tauranga and use local suppliers and contractors where possible.

A separate contract of $1.1m was let to Downer EDI Works for the construction of the western industrial pipeline.

Mayor Meng Foon is delighted with the result and the robust process throughout.

“The prices are excellent. I thank all the tenderers, our staff, wastewater committee and CH2M Beca for coming up with such a wonderful result.

“We still plan to approach the Government for assistance, mainly for the industrial scheme components, expected to cost $6.5m.”

Engineering and works manager Peter Higgs was also pleased to see the project come in well under estimate.

“This great achievement, at half the original price of close to $84m, reflects the hard work put in by council and its advisers especially CH2M Beca. It also reflects how much work had gone into getting the detail right in the first place – the design and consultation with tangata whenua and interest groups – to reduce the risk to contractors as much as possible.”

The staff recommendation for HEB was based on price and specified attributes – financial backing, relevant experience, track record, technical resources and management skills.

“We appreciate the effort put in by all the tenderers and thank them for the high quality of tenders submitted.”