Aroha, the Corban Reserve Stormwater Upgrade Project’s micro-Tunnel Boring Machine (m-TBM), outdid herself by breaking through at the inlet shaft in Henderson, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) this week!

Behind the m-TBM, 235 precast pipes were laid using pipe-jacking methods from Border Road Reserve to 18 Imperial Place. The project team is thrilled Aroha completed the 685-metre journey in less than two months, just in time for a well-deserved summer break. 

It will be a busy start to the new year with re-grading works in the two reserves taking place; Murillo Reserve, Upper Waitaro Stream and Border Road Esplanade will be upgraded with new landscaping, boardwalks, and paths.

The project is on track to be completed by mid-2023.

McConnell Dowell has been awarded the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) for a complex programme of work to strategically upgrade accommodation and infrastructure assets across the Pacific.

The Pacific Property System Project (PPSP) scope to construct MFAT’s chanceries, official residences, and staff housing spans seven countries – the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. It will ensure these important assets are fit for purpose and can continue to support New Zealand’s important work in the Pacific.

During the ECI stage the project team, which includes key asset management staff from MFAT, designers GHD, Design Group Stapleton Elliot (DGSE) and McConnell Dowell, will engage with staff and stakeholders to identify their requirements and future-proof the new facilities.

McConnell Dowell’s General Manager for the Pacific Islands, Brent Leach is pleased the team will be involved in the ECI process. “Identifying efficiencies and improving constructability is easier the earlier you are involved in the process, so it’s great to be working with MFAT during the initial design phase.  This is a fantastic opportunity for the team to collaborate with the client and design team and add value to the engineering and construction.”

The Pacific Islands are already seeing the impacts of climate change, and sustainability is a key driver for MFAT.

“Working with the Ministry to identify employment and training opportunities and ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the projects across the different islands are key drivers for the team,” says Mr Leach.

McConnell Dowell is a foundation member of indigenous business networks Akina and Amotai in New Zealand and has a large network of ‘local suppliers and services gathered from more than 50 years working in the Pacific. 

The ECI phase is expected to take nine months with early investigation and mobilisation planned for 2023.

We are pleased to advise that the Port of Melbourne has awarded us a contract to complete Stage 1 of the Swanson Dock West Remediation Project which includes the remediation and upgrade of the existing wharf structure.  

Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon said he was excited to see upgrade works progressing as part of the Port of Melbourne’s 2050 Port Development Strategy.  

“Swanson Dock West wharf structures must be remediated and upgraded to enable us to continue to handle container vessels for the next 50 years. 

“The existing SDW wharf is of varying ages and forms of construction. Sections of the wharf are close to or beyond the typical design life of 30 years and as a result, major remediation is needed.” 

General Manager for McConnell Dowell in Victoria and Tasmania, David Sims, said that the company was thrilled to be continuing its long-standing relationship with the Port of Melbourne. 

“Swanson Dock West will be the fifth project we’ve delivered for Port of Melbourne since 2017 and that means continued jobs and employment opportunities for our local staff, subcontractors and suppliers. We look forward to delivering great outcomes for the Port of Melbourne and its users.”  

SDW International Container Terminal currently has a three-berth operation. Port of Melbourne’s three-stage program has been developed to enable it to maintain a two-berth operation for the duration of the works. Commencing from Berth 1, the project will focus on completing works for each berth, moving progressively toward Berth 3. 

Swanson Dock West (SDW) is a critical International Container Terminal (ICT) comprising of a 944m wharf with three container-handling berths, which were constructed in several stages between the 1960s and 1980s. 

The SDW Remediation Project is due for completion in 2027. 

It was an absolute delight to see our team awarded the 'Project Controls Innovation of the Year' at the recent Asia Pacific Project Controls Awards in Melbourne. 

The team were selected based on their innovative digital engineering solution for the construction of the Eumemmerring Creek Bridge, part of the Cranbourne Line Upgrade Project delivered by our Western Program Alliance (WPA). 

The team created a full "digital rehearsal" of the bridge launch including developing detailed temporary works and construction sequencing. Through this digital approach all potenital construction issues were resolved virtually, well in advance of any works taking place on site. And all of this was done online, with stakeholders collaborating remotely from their homes and locked down worksites.

Congratulations to the all involved.

For more information on the project and to see the bridge launch, click here.