Water asset upgrades worth $13m set to begin

More than $13 million worth of infrastructure upgrades will get under way in Southland next month, which will ensure critical infrastructure gets much-needed improvements.

The Southland District Council received $13.53m in stimulus funding from the Government after opting to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Crown regarding Three Waters reform.

Council programme manager Joe Findley said the funding represented a great opportunity to improve the overall condition of the district’s assets.

The funding also presented a challenge in ensuring that the work was completed within the required time frames while still maintaining the quality standards expected, he said.

Included in the work is $1.5m towards a regional condition assessment programme, and $2m towards the Te Anau wastewater scheme.

The remaining $10.03m has been allocated to a renewal programme throughout the district.

The projects will cover upgrades and renewals to some of Southland’s water mains, stormwater and wastewater networks.

Next month, contractors will start work on a stormwater upgrade in Waianiwa, rising mains replacements in Eastern Bush/Otahu Flat, and a new pumped sewer in Riverton along Princess and Carrol streets.

In March, work will start on water main renewals in Riverton, Tuatapere, Lumsden and Otautau.

Stormwater upgrades in Orepuki and Stewart Island have also been given the green light but are yet to have a start date confirmed.

There are also multiple projects set to begin in April.

The district council had worked with the Invercargill City Council to appoint a panel of contractors to complete the works.

The panel model was approved to enable a streamlined procurement process to take place.

It had been a positive step towards the councils working collaboratively to gain efficiencies in the delivery of projects, Findley said.