McConnell Dowell_HEB Joint Venture awarded the Wellington Sludge Minimisation Project, by Wellington City Council
McConnell Dowell and joint venture partner HEB are pleased to announce the imminent construction of Wellington City Council’s Wellington Sludge Minimisation Project located at Moa Point.
Over the last seven months, the joint venture team has worked through an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process with the design team from Beca, and cost estimators Bond CM to develop the design for the new Sludge Minimisation Facility.
“We are excited to be working on such an innovative project. The new facility will generate power from the waste treatment process, and we think this sustainable approach is the way of the future. We’re proud to be working with the Council to deliver this project and help make life better for Wellingtonians”, says Fraser Wyllie, Managing Director - New Zealand & Pacific at McConnell Dowell.
This new facility will use Thermal Hydrolysis – heating under pressure - to sterilise and reduce the volume of the sludge, making it more biodegradable. Biogas will be captured and used to power the facility, substantially reducing carbon emissions. The sustainability benefits of the chosen design include:
- Reduced sludge volumes by up to 80%
- Reduced carbon emissions from the treatment and processing process by 60%
- Minimises the amount of waste going to landfill
- Produces a low odour stabilised (inert) product
- As mentioned above, offers the potential for sludge to be used productively, including as a soil conditioner, fertiliser, and fuel for industrial heat
The biosolids produced are significantly smaller in volume than the current methods and are safe for reuse.
The joint venture has previously delivered two of the country’s largest wastewater treatment plant upgrades (Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant Biological Nutrient Removal Upgrade and The Pukekohe WWTP Upgrade) on time and on budget and those strong relationships, the expertise and innovations will be applied to this new challenge.
Ahead of site works commencing, 1,500 native lizards living at the site were carefully trapped and relocated to protected sites at Moa Point, and in the Miramar Peninsula, like Rangitatau Park, Tukanae Street Reserve, and Centennial Park.
Following the recent site blessing by Taranaki Whānui, construction work will now get underway with completion expected mid- 2026.
To find out more information on the Sludge Minimisation Project, click here: https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/projects/moa-point-sludge-minimisation-facility
McConnell Dowell is gearing up to deliver another impressive wastewater plant project after being awarded Stage Three of the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) last month.
Stage Three includes building an additional reactor tank and clarifier which will double the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). It will also enable the plant to complete the switch, which began in 2019 with Stage One, to the more modern ‘Activated Sludge’ treatment method.
Once the new facilities are in place, we will carry out other works, including decommissioning the old oxidation ponds and installing a third drum screen to improve the quality of the treated effluent.
McConnell Dowell, Managing Director New Zealand & Pacific, Fraser Wyllie is proud to say that "over the last five years we have delivered two of New Zealand’s largest WWTP upgrades".
"The team have applied learnings from Pukekohe and the multi- award-winning Māngere upgrade projects to develop methodology that minimises carbon emissions and maximises efficiency.
It’s fantastic that this upgrade will help provide a better life for communities - by improving environmental outcomes and facilitating future growth - as they’re two of our key values."
The winning methodology draws on experience from similar jobs, rehabilitating challenging ground conditions, working within an operational plant safely and using innovative techniques to minimise the carbon footprint.
By reusing 10,000m3 of spoil onsite the team will save the emissions that would have been generated by transporting it. Along with recycling and using sustainable materials, the team are also using steel and concrete as efficiently as possible.
Work is scheduled to commence in August 2023 and will be carried out within the existing plant alongside the Kimi Ākau (the Shotover River).
We just got our updated activity report from 'PonyUp for Good' - a unique 'waste to resource' initiative in Australia.
'PonyUp for Good' is a Certified Social Enterprise & Engagement Agency, providing secure and sustainable collection and data destruction services for some of Australia’s largest and most innovative businesses. They remove decommissioned technology, securely data-erase it and re-market it, with a 'reuse first mandate' - keeping toxic chemicals out of our landfill and waterways.
Since 2019 we have diverted more than 7,800 kilograms of decommissioned technology from landfill, with PonyUp turning that into 7,200 fresh meals, delivered though their charity partner, SecondBite, who feed vulnerable people across Australia.
That's our purpose of "Providing a Better Life' in action.
One of the impediments to allow double stacked trains to pass safely through Wangaratta, the Cusack Street footbridge, has been removed by our Inland Rail team.
The pedestrian bridge, which came down on Monday 3 July, will be replaced with a new pedestrian underpass under the rail line. Elements of the Cusack Street footbridge’s heritage and design will be incorporated into the new underpass.
Ed Walker, ARTC General Manager Victoria and South Australia Projects said...
“The removal of the Cusack Street footbridge is the first major move in the Wangaratta rail precinct project.
"We are working hard with our construction partner, McConnell Dowell to minimise the impact of works on the community.”
The Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline (FGP) celebrated a major milestone with the successful delivery of the first pipe to Rockhampton recently. The milestone marks the first significant achievement for the $983 million infrastructure project.
The Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline is being delivered as a 50/50 joint venture between ourselves and BMD Constructions (MBJV) for the Gladstone Area Water Board and the Queensland Government. The pipeline will provide a reliable and sustainable water supply, contributing to the economic prosperity of the Gladstone region.
To commemorate the major project milestone, Gladstone Area Water Board’s Chief Executive Officer, Darren Barlow, the Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, Minister for Water, and Member for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher, Member for Rockhampton, Barry O’Rourke, Jim Frith, McConnell Dowell Managing Director, and, BMD’s General Manager - Constructions, Jeff Gallus, and various guests, gathered at the Gracemere pipe laydown site in Rockhampton to mark the delivery of the inaugural pipe, signifying that preparations are well underway in preparation for the start of construction
McConnell Dowell Australia Managing Director, Jim Frith said McConnell Dowell were pleased to see the first pipe land to site.
"Today’s delivery marks a significant first construction milestone in the 117-kilometre Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline," Mr Frith said.
“McConnell Dowell are proud to be working on this major Central Queensland project, bolstering local employment and supporting local industry in the communities where we are working.”
Gladstone Area Water Board’s Chief Executive Officer, Darren Barlow, said the arrival of the first pipe signals an exciting investment into the economic prosperity of Central Queensland.
“This is a significant milestone for the delivery of the Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline and is a great opportunity to ensure that this project is on Central Queenslander’s radars,” Mr Barlow said.
Our joint venture team has spent the last three months meeting with landholders, procuring equipment and materials, and starting works at the Gracemere laydown area and workers camp to gear up for start of major construction in August this year.
The new pipeline is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
Read more about the project here.