McConnell Dowell, as part of the Adelaide Aqua consortium (including Abigroup, Acciona Agua & United Utilities) are designing and constructing the Adelaide reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant to deliver 100 GL of desalinated water per annum, about half of Adelaide’s water needs. The Adelaide Aqua solution encompasses a range of initiatives aimed at minimising operating costs, environmental impacts and energy use including: A pre-treatment process that provides high levels of reliability, uses less energy and reduces chemical dosing requirements; A highly efficient reverse osmosis design, which sets an Australian benchmark for efficiency, energy savings and physical footprint; An innovative diffuser for the saline concentrate that will ensure adequate mixing back Read more

Client:            North Shore City Council Location:        Mairangi Bay, Auckland Contract:        D&C Completion:        May 2010   Project Summary A design and construction contract for a new outfall to discharge high quality treated effluent from a plant 2.8 km out to sea into the Rangitoto Channel.  The project scope included a 3 km long (2.4 km onshore and 0.6 km offshore) TBM driven, segment lined tunnel with an internal diameter of 2.8 m.  The tunnel connects to a 1.6 m diameter, 2 km long HDPE submarine pipeline laid in a dredged trench.  The marine pipeline also includes a 300 m long diffuser section.  MacDow's scope included inlet works and a shaft at the Read more

Client:            Watercare Services Limited Location:        Auckland, New Zealand Contract:        D&C Completion:        January 2010   Project Summary This multi-discipline D&C project was for the replacement of a 90 year old sewage pipe crossing Hobson Bay, on Auckland's waterfront Tamaki Drive.  The tunnel offers greater sewerage capacity to cater for projected population growth in the area and prevents wastewater overflows into both the Bay and Waitemata Harbour basin, a popular swimming spot.  The replacement of the existing wastewater pipe also opens up the Bay for recreational boating.  The contract scope included: 3 km long, 3.8 m internal diameter tunnel driven approximately 30 m below the bay floor Construction of three shafts of approximately 35 m Read more

Client:            Transit NZ (NZTA) Location:        Waikato Contract:        D&C Completion:        July 2006   Project Summary McConnell Dowell (in joint venture) successfully delivered this challenging D&C contract for Stage 4 of the Mercer to Long Swamp Four Laning Project.  The project forms part of the Waikato Expressway connecting Auckland to central Waikato.  The project involved 10 km of 4 lane highway including four bridges, significant earthworks, retaining walls, pavement surfacing, and lighting.  The Challenge Construction was undertaken in a highly trafficked environment with over 25,000 vehicles passing through the site daily.  Constrained by the Waikato River, SH1, and the NIMT railway, the project required meticulous planning and programming of work packages.  Other key project challenges Read more

Client:        Fletcher Construction Co Ltd Location:    North Shore, Auckland Contract:    Construct Only Currency:    May 2007 Project Summary Construction contract for a new 360 m long viaduct and 85m long road bridge on the New Zealand Transport Agency (then Transit NZ) Northern Busway Project.  Both bridges consist of pre-stressed, precast super tee girders with a cast in-situ composite concrete deck and asphalt wearing surface.  The busway is New Zealand's first purpose built road dedicated to bus passenger transport and forms a key part of Auckland's rapid transit network.  The Challenge A key challenge was to construct major structures in the middle of North Shore City, whilst maintaining existing local traffic flows and services. As the bridges were Read more

Client:        Pike River Coal Company Limited Location:    Greymouth, South Island Contract:    Design & Construct Currency:    July 2009   Project Summary Construction of a 2.3 km mine access tunnel, associated passing bays, and sumps for a 1 million tpa coal mine located within the confines of a virgin rain forest in the Paparoa National Park. The D profiled tunnel was excavated at various inclined grades to pass under located surface features. Ancillary works included construction of a 165 m high, 4 m2 ventilation shaft, a full length conveyor and support systems at the portal. The Challenge Unexpected rock conditions encountered early in the project and the high altitude of the project site presented significant challenges.  The top of Read more

Client:        Department of Port Administration Location:    Pago Pago, American Samoa Contract:    Construct Only Currency:    November 2007 Project Summary The scope of works comprised the upgrade of 1,280 lineal metres of runway, which included excavation and filling, pavement milling, pavement construction (including asphalt surfacing), pavement marking, ducting and cabling, and runway lighting. This project was part of the American Samoan Government's major maintenance works package.  The Challenge The construction works required Runway 8/26 to be closed to all air traffic for 6 months. However, the airport and main runway needed to remain operational throughout construction. Hence, it was important the works were completed on time with minimum disturbance to operations.  Security was also a complex issue. The Read more

Client:        Origin Technip Alliance Location:    Picton, New Zealand Contract:    Construct Only Currency:    May 2009 Project Summary The establishment and operation of a temporary spoolbase to support the overall Kupe Gas Project. The Kupe field over its life will provide the New Zealand gas network with approximately 253 petajoules of natural gas, LPG, and 15 million barrels of light oil (condensate). The spoolbase contract was an important part of the Kupe Project and included: A fabrication facility and bridging of a 60m wide stormwater pond Welding a total of 28,000 m of pipes into 70 individual 420m long strings (pipe stalks) The Challenge This high profile project was always going to be challenging with limited space and tight timeframes Read more

Client:        Goro Nickel SAS Location:    Goro, New Caledonia Contract:    Construct Only Currency:    November 2006 Project Summary The Goro Nickel Project involved the construction of a nickel processing facility, a power plant, a dam, wharves, and a conveyor system. It is one of the largest industrial mining projects in the world. MacDow's scope of work included construction of a new 180 m general cargo berth, a new 270 m bulk berth, three new dolphins, general port area earthworks, and earthworks for the conveyor system. The Challenge The main challenge was undertaking piling operations under tight program requirements and in difficult ground conditions adjacent to a World Heritage UNESCO reef / lagoon. The Solution To minimise the high level of Read more

Client:        Koniambo Nickel SAS Location:    Kone, North Province, New Caledonia Contract:    Construct Only Currency:    Due for completion mid 2012 Project Summary The Socalmo MacDow JV was awarded three construction packages for the Koniambo Nickel Project. The project includes construction of a new nickel refinery complete with a power station near Koné in the North Province of New Caledonia. Koniambo is one of the largest and highest grade undeveloped nickel resources in the world and has a nominal capacity to produce 60,000 tonnes of nickel per annum. Our scope of works includes the construction of an ore preparation plant, overland conveyors, wet ore stockpile, coal stockpile, storage tanks, plus above and underground pipe works. The Read more

Client:        Maritime & Ports Authority of Fiji Location:    Lautoka, Fiji Contract:    Construct Only Currency:    April 2005 Project Summary The construction of a 154 m long, 48 m wide extension to an existing 35 year old wharf in Lautoka, Fiji. The project was one of the largest undertaken in Fiji and doubles the berthing capacity at this very busy port. Construction consisted of steel piles and a cast insitu suspended concrete deck, cathodic protection and electrical services. The concrete deck was supported on 800 mm diameter piles some 38 m in length. Raker piles were installed to resist lateral loads and were 900 mm in diameter and over 45 m in length. The Challenge Many challenges Read more

Client:        American Samoa Government - Department of Public Works Location:    Sailele Village, American Samoa Contract:    Construct Only Currency:    December 2010 Project Summary Construction of 650 linear feet of precast tribar revetment (or seawall) and 550 linear feet of concrete road pavement with drainage and telecom conduit. The Challenge Sailele is in a remote location at the end of a steep, narrow road with several switchbacks, making construction a hazard to trucking.Safety of the general public was also a key concern, as people in remote villages are unused to seeing heavy equipment and had to be warned of potential hazards. The Solution A mobile concrete batch plant and precast yard was set up in the village. Tribars were Read more