McConnell Dowell is pleased to form part of the Alliance that will deliver the detailed design and construction of the Westhaven to Akoranga section of the Northern Pathway.

Following the announcement from the Minister of Transport  (Friday 4 June 2021), we are now able to confirm that the preferred option for the Northern Pathway, Westhaven to Akoranga is a separate structure for walking and cycling alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge, protecting its heritage and structural integrity. Alliance partners McConnell Dowell,  Aurecon, Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction and Freyssinet, have been actively working on a preferred solution that is fit for a growing Auckland.

The Northern Pathway Westhaven to Akoranga project will provide a seamless, dedicated walking and cycling link between central Auckland and the North Shore. It will connect with existing local paths to extend the region’s walking and cycling network providing people with real choice in the way they travel and significantly improve climate outcomes.

McConnell Dowell's New Zealand and Pacific Managing Director, Fraser Wyllie says this project will enable a modal shift on this strategic connection for Tamaki Makaurau. 

"McConnell Dowell has successfully delivered complex infrastructure projects with our customers and communities across Aotearoa for the past 60 years. We are excited to partner with Waka Kotahi and our Alliance project partners to deliver the Northern Pathway project."

Alliance Project Director, Hugh Milliken, says he is feels privileged to be involved in such a transformative project for the city and shares the excitement of the Alliance project team.

“I’m proud to lead the Alliance to deliver this project which will provide an important strategic connection enabling people to travel across the harbour on foot and on bikes for generations to come.”

The Northern Pathway, from central Auckland to the North Shore, is split into three connected sections for delivery:

• Westhaven to Akoranga, Te Ara Pae Moana (harbour bridge component) and land component between Sulphur Beach Reserve and Akoranga.
• Akoranga to Constellation Drive.
• Constellation Drive to Albany is under construction as part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project.

Once complete, the Northern Pathway will provide a fully separated pathway between Westhaven and Albany with local entry and exit points.

McConnell Dowell is pleased to be delivering the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project in Far North Queensland. In a world-first, this project will convert a disused gold mine into a pumped storage hydroelectric power generation facility.

The pumped storage hydro power station will use the pits of the old mine, with water run from the upper to the lower pit through two turbines at times of peak power demand and pumped back during low demand to restart the cycle.

With delivery partner John Holland, McConnell Dowell will soon commence works on the natural battery storage facility that has the potential to generate up to 250 MW of rapid response, flexible power to Australia’s National Electricity Market.

CEO Scott Cummins says this project is an important step in Australia’s move towards a more sustainable energy future.

“For 60 years McConnell Dowell has successfully delivered complex infrastructure with our customers and the community and the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project is another excellent example of our creative construction ethos in action. We are thrilled to be part of part of this development. The award of this work continues to build McConnell Dowell’s growing presence throughout Australia in the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects in the resource, energy and transport sectors.”  

McConnell Dowell Project Director Bruno Tirrizzi is excited to be leading the team that will deliver this innovative project

“It’s great to be moving into the construction phase of Kidston after a long and rewarding collaboration with Genex and our delivery partners on the design of the facility”, Mr Tirrizzi said.

The project is led by Genex Power, Australia’s leading renewable energy and storage company, and along with requiring the conversion of two existing mine pits into reservoirs, involves the construction of significant underground infrastructure including a large powerhouse cavern and waterway shafts and tunnels to allow the transfer of water between the upper and lower reservoirs to  generate power during peak periods and return water back to the upper reservoir during off peak periods.

McConnell Dowell is pleased to announce that the Wynyard Edge Alliance won the Engineering New Zealand, Arthur Mead Award for Engineering Excellence for Projects greater than $10 million for the 36^th Americas Cup infrastructure project. The awards night at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland was attended by many members of the WEA project team lead by Kurt Grant (McConnell Dowell) who accepted the award on behalf of all that were involved with this outstanding project.

The Wynyard Edge Alliance delivered the stage for the 36th America’s Cup and a waterfront consisted of McConnell Dowell, Downer, Beca, T+T, Auckland Council, Panuku and MBIE.

The Alliance was recognised for numerous innovative materials and techniques including:

• pre-casting of the wharf and breakwater components and transporting them to site by barge, saving numerous truck trips through downtown Auckland,
• laying the groundwork for future development of the Wynyard Point land on which decades of heavy bulk fuels had been stored,
• provided a language skills programme for the construction workers that has assisted the workers to confidently move to other construction projects as well as engaging deeply and successfully with stakeholders and partners in a highly sensitive environment.

Most importantly, they got it all done in time for the 36^th America’s Cup races to begin, meeting all of the project milestones and completing the project with 1.1 million worker hours LTI free.

Congratulations to everyone that worked on this outstanding project, deemed a Beacon project by MBIEs Construction Sector Accord, helping Emirates Team New Zealand win the 36^th Americas Cup.

The McConnell Dowell Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr James Glastonbury as Executive General Manager Engineering, Technology and Innovation.

James has an outstanding reputation in Australia and internationally as a civil engineering thought leader and has played a pivotal role in driving engineering excellence, including in the digital and BIM space. 

In announcing this key leadership appointment to the Group’s Executive Committee, CEO Scott Cummins said…

“We are very excited that James has elected to join the McConnell Dowell Group to help drive our journey in these areas, and to oversee the continued establishment of communities of practice and centres of excellence across our core disciplines.”

James is looking forward to leading the team at McConnell Dowell as the business solidifies its position as the ‘Creative Construction’ company...

“There has arguably not been a more exciting or more pressing time for those that seek to constructively challenge. It is this cultural dimension that has drawn me to McConnell Dowell. I’m looking forward to building on the ‘Creative Construction’ brand.”

James will be based in Sydney and will commence in the role in the coming months.