Watercare is the largest provider in New Zealand’s water and wastewater sector. Last year, it issued a tender for professional engineering consultants to partner on its Enterprise Model capital works programme.
WSP Head of Water for Auckland Annise Raea says WSP is proud to have been selected to work alongside the other successful Enterprise Model Strategy and Planning and Design and Delivery partners - Beca, Stantec and Aurecon. Construction partners Fulton Hogan and Fletcher Construction are also involved.
Technical specialists from WSP will help take Watercare’s infrastructure projects from business case to detailed design and delivery stage. WSP will bring a range of professional services to the 10-year Enterprise Model contract, including water, mechanical, electrical and structural engineering. Geotechnical and environmental assessments, construction consenting, supervision and support will also be brought to bear over the 10 years of the contract.
Servicing a population of over 1.7 million people, Annise says the drinking and wastewater infrastructure built and maintained by Watercare is an essential asset for today and vital to the health and development of Auckland’s future communities.
“We look forward to working collaboratively alongside our Enterprise Model partners to upgrade and design the pipes, networks and systems needed to maintain and enhance the city’s precious water resource and provide capacity for a fast-growing population.”
Watercare chief infrastructure officer Steve Webster says the new Enterprise Model partners will be working on large-scale projects like the North Harbour 2 watermain, which will service growing communities in the north and west, and investigating thermal hydrolysis at wastewater treatment plants at Māngere and Rosedale.
“Just like our construction partners, our planning and design partners will work collaboratively with us to help us achieve our ambitious targets for reducing build carbon, reducing costs and improving health, safety and wellbeing outcomes for everyone working on our sites.”
WSP Client Director for Water Philip McFarlane says WSP is squarely aligned with the broader environmental, social, economic and cultural outcomes that Watercare want to achieve with their significant planned programme of works - including a 40% reduction in built carbon by 2024, 20% cost savings by 2024, and 20% year-on-year improvement in health, safety and wellness.
“Having last year made a major new external commitment that will see the carbon footprint of all infrastructure designs and advice provided to our clients halved by 2030, our multi-disciplinary WSP team is especially looking forward to helping Watercare meet its sustainability target. We're also excited to bring our cultural, Rautaki Māori expertise to the table as part of the broader outcomes of the contract,” he says.
More information can be found here on Watercare’s website.
