By Rose Bell
Following that funding was confirmed for the new work, Auckland’s Central Interceptor wastewater tunnel will be extended by more than 1km.
The developing plan is from Grey Lynn to Point Erin in Herne Bay follows agreement on Local Water Done Well between Auckland mayor Wayne Brown and local government minister Simeon Brown earlier this month.
Stretching from Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant across the Manukau Harbour to central Auckland, the 4.5m diameter Central Interceptor tunnel in New Zealand’s largest city also includes two new link sewers collecting flows from west Auckland. As the largest wastewater infrastructure project in New Zealand’s history, this project is due to significantly decrease wet weather overflows into waterways as well as the Waitematā Harbour.
Additionally, improving the resilience of the wastewater network and allowing for population growth in the city, are the other advantages of this project.
TBM Hiwa-i-te-Rangi has excavated more than 11km since leaving Māngere in August 2021 and is approximately 60m beneath Mt Albert, heading towards Western Springs.
According to Mayor Brown: “It would be the first of many projects to benefit Aucklanders following the Local Water Done Well agreement. The deal was about fixing Auckland’s water infrastructure. We avoided major hikes in water charges, while enabling major investment in water infrastructure that will last generations and make Auckland a better place to live.”
The determined date for inauguration of Central Interceptor project is up to Grey Lynn in 2026, whereas the Point Erin extension is slated to be launched in 2028 when it links to an upgraded Herne Bay Trunk Sewer.
Passing the halfway mark, construction of the Central Interceptor project includes over than 600 staff working on 16 sites across Auckland and more than 16km of tunneling, 4km of micro-tunneling, the construction of 17 shafts and major new infrastructure including a new pump station at the Māngere site to send flows from the main tunnel to the treatment plant for processing. Crews will also shortly begin connecting the aging Western Interceptor to the Central Interceptor.
The responsibility of delivering this project is up to Ghella Abergeldie JV, and the southern section of the tunnel from May Rd, Mt Roskill south and one link sewer is due to go live by the end of the year.
