24 August 2005

Registrations of interest sought to build Ocean Outfall

The Christchurch City Council is a step closer to removing the city's treated wastewater discharge from the Avon-Heathcote Estuary, as it seeks registrations of interest from contractors to build the ocean outfall pipeline.

Council Project Delivery team leader, John Moore, says the first public notice seeking requests of interest (ROI) was published in all major newspapers on Saturday, and will be repeated this weekend.

ROI submissions close at 12 midday, Wednesday, 14 September. Submissions received after then may be considered at the discretion of Council.

Although an Environment Canterbury (ECan) decision on the resource consents is still pending, the City Council must plan as far ahead as possible if it is to meet an ECan requirement that it let the multi-million dollar ocean outfall contract within eight months of the consent being granted.

The type of work involved in building the ocean outfall could include dig and lay, micro tunnelling, dredge and lay, or a combination of all these methods. Contractors could offer an alternative innovative construction method and would eventually be asked to submit on their preferred method, Mr Moore says.

About three to five potential tenderers would be selected from the ROI short-list to take part in a formal interactive tendering process, starting in December, with final tenders closing about the end of March, 2006. Depending on when the resource consent for the ocean outfall is finalised, the contract is likely to be awarded about the end of May, 2006, Mr Moore says.

ROI documents with a full description of the project and its detailed requirements for ROI submissions are available by email from ron-fleming@urscorp.com or phone 64 03 374 8545.

ENDS

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