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Customer: Watercare Services Ltd Contract: Design & Construct Location: Warkworth, Auckland, New Zealand   |
Fast Facts
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Drawing on our industry-leading trenchless construction experience, we delivered the Warkworth to Snells Transfer Pipeline for Watercare, continuing our strong relationship with them.
The project was part of Watercare's North-East Wastewater Servicing Scheme, which conveyed wastewater from Warkworth to Snells Beach. The scheme will cater for future growth and enable Watercare to decommission the existing Warkworth Wastewater Treatment Plant, which discharges into the Mahurangi River.
Customer Quote
"I am pleased to confirm that McConnell Dowell Constructors delivered the Warkworth to Snells Wastewater Transmission Project for Watercare to an exceptionally high standard. This was achieved 27 days ahead of schedule and 3% under budget."
Dirk du Plessis
Senior Project Manager - Watercare
In 2025, the project won two awards Water NZ Project of the Year Award and the Civil Contractors New Zealand award, for Auckland projects with a value exceeding $50M.
“McConnell Dowell has been a fantastic client for showing the industry what Direct Pipe is capable of. Herrenknecht has been proud to support them on their journey to setting world records for the length of installation using Direct Pipe technology. Their professionalism when it comes to safety and operations is second to none, and Herrenknecht very much looks forward to supporting them on their future challenges in the years to come.”
Ben Hayes
Area Sales Manager Herrenknecht Asia
Our scope of work included the construction of a five-kilometre-long wastewater pipeline from the upgraded pump station in Lucy Moore Memorial Park to a new modern treatment plant at Snells Beach.
The new wastewater transfer pipeline comprised of:
- a dual rising main approximately 1.4 km long from the Warkworth Pump Station to a new break chamber, and
- a single gravity sewer approximately 3.6 km long from the break chamber to the Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The pipeline runs beneath private farmland, and due to the topography and access challenges, we constructed the pipeline trenchlessly using a Herrenknect Direct Pipe® MTBM (micro tunnel boring machine). The pipeline was installed in three drives, requiring the construction of two large launch platform sites, one of which was reconfigured for two of the drives.
Strict controls were in place to ensure protection of the surrounding environment while construction was underway. For example, early on in the earthworks phase, our team spotted a dotterel nest in the dirt and a bird hovering nearby. We quickly erected a protective fence around the nest, and all operators were alerted to avoid the area for the three-week incubation period.
Consultation and communication with invested stakeholders on the project were critical. We established positive relationships early on and continuously consulted with mana whenua, Auckland Council, Rodney Local Board, utility providers, and affected landowners.
Watch a video summarising the project, or others with more detail about the job on YouTube.
and some of the construction activity here..
