$15 million project design panel action

THE Queenstown Lakes District Council will this week take the first step in appointing a design panel for a $15 million, 60project programme to upgrade stormwater, wastewater, and water supply infrastructure throughout the district.

It will release a request for proposal tomorrow to appoint a design panel for the Three Waters Programme.

In a media statement, property and infrastructure general manager Peter Hansby said Three Waters would be three times bigger than any other infrastructure programme the council had delivered.

The work would enable the district’s infrastructure to keep pace with growth and demand.

Because of its complexity and scale, the council was taking a ‘‘bundled’’ approach to taking the work to potential suppliers, Mr Hansby said.

To ensure the programme was delivered efficiently and effectively, similar and compatible types of work had been bundled into 10 packages, totalling about 60 projects.

‘‘By using this bundle and panel approach, we will have a panel of suppliers onhand who have the required capabilities to deliver the Three Waters programme.

‘‘This will ensure the right suppliers are chosen for the right bundle of work.’’

It would also release a request for proposal before Christmas to appoint a physical works contractor panel.

The design panel request for proposal will open for submissions via the Government Electronic Tenders Service portal.