Big projects costing $17m under way

Water projects dominate $11.8 million of capital works for the Mackenzie District Council in the current financial year.

The council plans to replace water mains across Fairlie, Tekapo and Twizel as part of capital works budgeted in its Annual Plan.

The council is also undertaking a $5.12m programme of works funded through the Government’s Three Waters Scheme.

A report on the status of the Annual Plan works says the only project not in the detailed design stage is the upgraded Fairlie water treatment plant, for which the budget has increased from $2m in the annual plan to an estimated $5m.

‘‘The initial sum was a placeholder in the budget and detailed design work had not been undertaken at that time,’’ a council spokesperson said.

‘‘Concept and preliminary design works undertaken by consultants has recommended membrane treatment as the preferred technology for Fairlie. This is a change from the design which was considered initially, and which the early cost estimates were based on.’’

The council is also trying to acquire land to put the new water treatment plant on, as the land around the water source in Fairlie is privately owned.

The council will also be spending $2m renewing the water mains in Fairlie, which is also over budget and behind schedule by more than 10 per cent.

The reports says the delay and additional cost are caused by the need to work with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency around working on mains near roads, as well as the need to locate mains away from the protected Fairlie Peace Avenue trees.

The renewal of the Tekapo water mains, which the council is spending $300,000 on, is also over budget and behind schedule, but within a 10 per cent deviation.

The report says the ‘‘complicated existing structure [is] to be abandoned’’, and the project is over budget and behind schedule because of the need to gain a corridor access request to go under the state highway.

The Twizel water mains renewal, which will cost $5.7m, is broken down into three packages, with the first on track and on budget.

A further $1.8m is being spent on a shared use path upgrades across the district, which is also on track and on budget.

A council spokesperson said the Government money for the Three Waters project is expected in the council’s bank account ‘‘in the next day or two’’.

Mackenzie mayor Graham Smith said if the council can go to market before other councils they can ensure they don’t lose out in the bid for contractors.