By rosebell
Construction has advanced on Auckland’s Herne Bay Collector wastewater tunnel project, with the installation of a 56.5m-high tower crane marking a key milestone. The crane will support construction of a major underground control chamber and associated infrastructure.
Watercare is delivering the NZ$260 million project to improve wastewater management during wet weather. The new collector will connect to the northern end of the Central Interceptor, Auckland’s 16.2km wastewater tunnel system, enabling additional flows to be directed for treatment.
Ghella to build 1.7km wastewater tunnel
Ghella is constructing the 1.7km-long wastewater tunnel, which will have a diameter of 2.1m. The project includes seven main shafts, three intermediate shafts and a seven-storey underground control chamber within a 20m-deep shaft beneath Point Erin Park.
The control chamber will form the connection between the Herne Bay Collector and the Central Interceptor, helping manage wastewater flows during periods of heavy rainfall.
Tower crane supports underground construction
The tower crane will provide the lifting capacity required to lower reinforcing steel, formwork and other construction materials into the excavation as the control chamber is built from the bottom up.
Watercare Waitematā water quality improvement programme director Morris Taylor said the chamber would serve as a gateway between the two wastewater systems, directing flows for treatment rather than allowing overflows to enter the harbour.
The crane will also support the installation of large pipes and precast concrete structures weighing up to 24 tonnes. Its use is expected to reduce reliance on temporary mobile cranes while improving site access, construction productivity and safety, and helping limit noise and vibration.
Central Interceptor now operational
The Herne Bay Collector will connect to the northern end of Auckland’s Central Interceptor, a 16.2km wastewater tunnel project constructed by the Ghella Abergeldie joint venture. Construction began in 2019, and the system became fully operational in July 2026.
The collector will extend the network’s capacity to manage wastewater during wet weather, helping reduce overflows into the Waitematā Harbour and improve water quality around Auckland.
