$2 million saving by Council

Almost $2 million has been saved as a result of the competitive tendering process for Stage 1 of the River Recharge Scheme and the Water Treatment Plant upgrade.

Kāpiti Mayor Ross Church said the savings were significant and would be warmly welcomed by ratepayers.

Eight companies submitted bids. These were reduced to a short list of three – Downers NZ Ltd, Hawkins Infrastructure Ltd and the Fletcher Construction Company trading as Brian Perry Civil.

Council today accepted a bid from Downers for $7.6 million. This comprised $2.9 million for Stage 1 of the River Recharge Scheme and $4.7 million for the Water Treatment Plan upgrade. A 15% contingency for potential variations will push the total project cost to $8.8 million.

The total is almost $2 million less than the original estimate of $10.3 million.

Stage 1 of the River Recharge Scheme will involve the construction of a new pipeline linking four inland bores in the Waikanae bore field; the installation of three new bore field pumps; and construction of the ground water discharge channel and stream discharge structure at the Water Treatment Plant. The inlet works to the Treatment Plant will also be modified with improved filter screens and an automated cleaning mechanism.

The major areas for upgrade or replacement at the Water Treatment Plant include new raw water and high lift pumps, chemical dosing equipment and all of the electrical and control facilities.

Mayor Church said the Plant had been operating since 1977 and was now in need of a significant upgrade to ensure it could cope with future water demands and the need for quality drinking water.