Potential contractors briefed on wastewater project

More than 30 people representing 13 national and local companies took a first-hand look this week at the site of Gisborne's new wastewater treatment plant.

Gisborne District Council engineering and works manager Peter Higgs and wastewater project manager Peter McConnell briefed the group on the project, with support from CH2M engineering consultants Garry Macdonald and Roddy Copeland.  The group was then taken by bus and a convoy of cars to view the Stanley Street milliscreening plant, the council-owned Banks Street site where the treatment plant is to be built, and the various industries that will form part of the industrial separation scheme.

Eleven companies had earlier registered an interest in building the wastewater treatment plant; 8 registered an interest in the industrial separation scheme.

Council staff had initially produced a shortlist of preferred contractors to be invited to submit tenders. But with the view to giving local contractors a chance to tender directly, council decided to let all registrations of interest go forward to the tender process.

Wastewater project director Garry Macdonald said the information day drew a good response with all interested parties attending.

"Each party was given a full set of 20 design drawings to help get them thinking about the methodology involved in the various parts of the project, and to help them line up the various subcontractors and suppliers that may be required." Mr Macdonald said.

Designed by CH2M Beca, the total wastewater project is estimated to be completed within a $45M budget, including escalation and risk costs. 

Tender documents are expected to be issued by the end of August after which contractors will have 6 weeks to prepare tenders. Staff will then recommend one or 2 preferred tenderers to the full Council for a final decision either in late October or at a special meeting in early November.

The successful tenderer is expected to be notified by mid-November with work beginning before Christmas.

"We expect that the contractors will want to work through the Christmas period to get the project under way. We are still hopeful that the treatment plant will be commissioned by the end of 2010 as planned," Mr Macdonald said.

"The project is now fully consented to go ahead after the outstanding appeal against the consent variations granted in May was resolved earlier this month.