McConnell Dowell is gearing up to deliver another impressive wastewater plant project after being awarded Stage Three of the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) last month.

Stage Three includes building an additional reactor tank and clarifier which will double the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). It will also enable the plant to complete the switch, which began in 2019 with Stage One, to the more modern ‘Activated Sludge’ treatment method.

Once the new facilities are in place, we will carry out other works, including decommissioning the old oxidation ponds and installing a third drum screen to improve the quality of the treated effluent.

McConnell Dowell, Managing Director New Zealand & Pacific, Fraser Wyllie is proud to say that "over the last five years we have delivered two of New Zealand’s largest WWTP upgrades".

"The team have applied learnings from Pukekohe and the multi- award-winning Māngere upgrade projects to develop methodology that minimises carbon emissions and maximises efficiency.

It’s fantastic that this upgrade will help provide a better life for communities - by improving environmental outcomes and facilitating future growth - as they’re two of our key values."

The winning methodology draws on experience from similar jobs, rehabilitating challenging ground conditions, working within an operational plant safely and using innovative techniques to minimise the carbon footprint.

By reusing 10,000m3 of spoil onsite the team will save the emissions that would have been generated by transporting it. Along with recycling and using sustainable materials, the team are also using steel and concrete as efficiently as possible. 

Work is scheduled to commence in August 2023 and will be carried out within the existing plant alongside the Kimi Ākau (the Shotover River).