News Release

Wednesday 7 October 2009

$10.5 million works contract will boost lakes water quality and local economy

ROTORUA 07.10.09: Rotorua District Council has let one of its largest construction contracts in many years, a $10.5 million sewerage scheme construction programme that will help improve and preserve water quality in three of the district’s most popular lakes.

The contract has been awarded to the Bay of Plenty branch of Downer EDI Works Ltd and involves construction of two major sewerage schemes to replace septic tanks throughout a number of lakeside communities.

One scheme will introduce reticulated sewerage for residents in the Okere Falls, Otaramarae and Whangamarino areas on Lake Rotoiti, while the second scheme will cover residents of Lake Okareka and Blue Lake.

Rotorua District Council’s district engineer, Nico Claassen, said the projects are part of the district’s wider $100 million programme to improve lake water quality by progressively replacing septic tanks with reticulated sewerage schemes connected to the city’s main sewer line and wastewater treatment plant.

The new sewerage schemes are funded by a combination of sources including contributions from individual property owners, the Ministry for the Environment, Environment Bay of Plenty and Rotorua District Council general rates.

“Apart from the all-important longer term objectives around improving water quality of our lakes, the project will also provide a welcome boost to the local and regional economy,” said Mr Claassen.

“Downer EDI Works is one of New Zealand’s largest and most experienced contractors and they will be employing personnel largely from Rotorua and around the region, which is great news for local employment.”

The project involves construction of sewer pressure mains and pump stations that will connect lakeside communities to the city’s sewer system. It includes installation of new technology ‘low pressure grinder pump systems’ at individual properties, and connecting existing plumbing to the new schemes.

Mr Claassen said work on the first of the two schemes, Okareka/Blue Lake, is expected to commence later this month and take 50 weeks to complete. The Okere Falls/Otaramarae/Whangamarino scheme would take 70 weeks.

“The latest contract covers construction of two more of the 11 sewerage schemes which Rotorua District Council is undertaking over a ten year period to improve lakes water quality. It’s a huge engineering programme but it’s of immense significance to Rotorua and to the future of our lakes.”

“Already the Okawa Bay/Mourea/Duxton and Hinemoa Points schemes have been completed and are up and running, and Brunswick and Rotokawa schemes are at present under construction and will be completed soon.

“The final group of sewerage schemes yet to be undertaken are Hamurana/Awahou, Gisborne Point/Hinehopu, Rotoma, Tarawera, and Mamaku. These will commence after construction of the new Okareka/Blue Lake and Okere Falls/Otaramarae/Whangamarino schemes,” said Mr Claassen.

[ENDS]

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