Watercare’s seven year Central Interceptor project is over halfway complete.
The aim of the project is to reduce water overflow in the central Auckland area with the construction of New Zealand’s largest wastewater tunnel.
The team is about to hit the penultimate breakthrough before arriving at Point Erin Reserve in Herne Bay in March/April of 2025.
Watercare Chief Programme Delivery Officer Shayne Cunis told Kerre Woodham that Auckland is going to get a lifetime of benefits from the project.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Kerry Wood of Mornings podcast from
News Talk sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
As we come to the end of twenty twenty four,
we thought we'd checking with watercre Central Interceptor Project. You
may remember Helen and I went on a field trip
to meet to where sorry, May Road, that's right, Oh, yes,
because I was wondering what on earth you were talking about. Yes,
(00:32):
Helen and I went on a field trip out to
May Road in February to meet huere ITTSERRANGI, the tunnel
Boring Machine, and the Central Interceptor team who are building up.
They're about to hit their penultimate breakthrough before arriving at
point Erin Reserve in Herne Bay in March or April
of next year. Watercare Chief Program Delivery Officer Shankurness joins
me now and a very good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning, Carrie. How are you well?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I'm good. But I saw that the beaches were closed
because of course it rains in Auckland and the beaches
are closed. And that's the end of that. This interceptor
can't get online soon enough.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
The end is in sight. I mean, I never thought
back in twenty eighteen when I joined the project at
twenty twenty six or the lifetime away. And now the
finish line is very much in the sight. As you
said in your intro, we're about to hit Tarretus Street
in Graylyn with one more stop on her journey. And
(01:28):
she's done a lot of hard work. And you've been
into a section of the tunnel that no humans can
ever go back into again, because that section is about
to go alive. And it's just testimated the really amount
of hard work that everyone has put into this project
over the last six years. And oftens are going to
get a lifetime of benefits, which is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It is amazing, and to be a part of it
and to see the end of it as incredible too,
because so many people start off on projects and don't
get to see the ultimate result. And I know that
when we talk. When I came to see you said,
it's not going to be one hundred percent. You know
there are still going to be times we've had so
much rainfall that you're not going to be able to cope,
(02:09):
but it's certainly going to improve things for so many
people for generations to come.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Well.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
As they say, there's only two certainties in life, and
that's death in Texas. I'd love to say this will
take away every overflow, but you know, we had those
Niversary floods almost two years ago. That volume of water nothing,
there's no engineering solution for that. But it will make
a massive improvement in the reduction of overflows that happened
(02:35):
now every time it rains, and we saw that it
was a little bit of rain recently and the weekend
and you know, the red and black flags came back again.
No one wants that just project.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
No, it's a damning indictment on our communities, isn't it
when you see those.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Ah. Look, you know when Auckland was built back in
the turn of the century, this is what you know
societies did, and societies all around the world are grappling
with us. What we've been very fortunate is that water
Care a long time go started planning for this and
I've been very fortunate to be the one that gets
to deliver it. But the people of ALcom will get
(03:11):
to enjoy the benefits for generations to come. And good
things take time. But as I say, it's really getting
post now and it's just fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
But we saw the way she got Burrow. Yeah, it
does take time. But she was slow, she was steady,
she was relentless, She just kept on boring.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
She has done a fantastic job, and you know the
reality is that we'd rather do it right and do
it once, yeah, and become the surveyors of the heroes
of this. They make her come out exactly on target.
And I don't think people really understand the engineering it's
gone been involved, from tunneling all the way from Margery
(03:50):
through the Gray Line. It has been very trying at times,
but we've got a very skilled team, a world class contractor,
and we're you know, the enders in sight.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
How many other cities, towns around New Zealand need to
have something similar, perhaps not to the scale that we've seen,
need to have something similar in their backyards.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think a lot of our older cities have got
the same problem and we're all grappling with which is
they've changed over time. The infrastructure wasn't upgraded at the
time and the type of solution though, depends on the city.
We were very, very fortunate that the way the waste
for the system was designed, we could introduce the central
(04:35):
interceptor and integrated into our existing network. Other cities won't
be so fortunate, so they may have to go down
the separation route. Really, what we need is each community
to work out the best solution to get the best
outcome for the lowest possible costs.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah. Yeah, I won't even I won't even engage you
in whether three waters was the right answer or the
next iteration is going to be the right answer. But
I mean, what we've seen is a commitment being made
and it being delay it, which is just you know,
I know it shouldn't be remarkable, but it kind of
is in this day and age.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I think Waterkey has got a very proud history of delivering,
from the upgrade of the MANGERI wastewater treatment plant in
the early two thousands, which took it from being an
oxidation based system to a very advanced treatment process, to
the delivery of the white out of water treatment plant
in the early two thousands following the drought in the
nineteen nineties, and this last year we've we delivered for
the first time ever in our history of billion dollars
(05:34):
with the capital works. So as an example of what
our industry can do, I think water Care I'm very
proud of the work that my team does and what
we do in serving the people of Awokland. I know
we often have our critics. Sometimes we don't get it right,
but I really do believe we get it more right
than wrong. And you know we're leaving a better city,
(05:56):
which is all you can already ask for when you
work for an organization like watercre Well.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And I so you've got a brand new, spanking new
role chief Program Delivery Officer. What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It means I'm responsible for delivering all the infrastructure programs
across water here. What do they say, if you want something,
don't give it to a busy person. Look, I'm very
very proud to be asked to come in and do that.
I'm leading, leading the whole team, and I'm really really
excited about the program of work we've got a head because,
as I say, it's a changed to leave a legacy
(06:27):
for Auckland, and you very really get to say you
can do that. But see, I has been a great
experience to date, but now we've got so much more
else to do as well.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Absolutely, oh my goodness, and doing it right at the
CADELPA culture for team staying on to help you deliver.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Look, I'd love to stay in New Zealand. They've got
to find projects that suit their business model, and I
think there will be some. I would hate for us
to lose the expertise we've built over the last six years.
The wheels the wheel for a very good reason, but
unfortunate at times. We're very good at reinventing it. But
(07:05):
I feel they'll be successful in New Zealand going forward.
And there's enough work and he's enough infrastructure work to
keep a lot of contractors busy, and so I'm ready
optimistic for the future ahead of us.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Thanks so much, Shane. I just want to wish you
a very merry Christmas.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Ah be hearing or for your listeners, and thanks for
your support over the years. And we look forward to
seeing it the final breakthrough and we'll have them. We'll
have a bit of a party, I think, so it'll
be fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Most excellent Shane Kerners. What a chief program delivery officer
soon soon to be the chief program delivery officer for
thirteen billion dollars of new treatment plants, pipes, pump stations.
Very exciting.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
For more from Kerry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Kerry Wood of Mornings podcast from
News Talk sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
As we come to the end of twenty twenty four,
we thought we'd checking with watercre Central Interceptor Project. You
may remember Helen and I went on a field trip
to meet to where sorry, May Road, that's right, Oh, yes,
because I was wondering what on earth you were talking about. Yes,
(00:32):
Helen and I went on a field trip out to
May Road in February to meet huere ITTSERRANGI, the tunnel
Boring Machine, and the Central Interceptor team who are building up.
They're about to hit their penultimate breakthrough before arriving at
point Erin Reserve in Herne Bay in March or April
of next year. Watercare Chief Program Delivery Officer Shankurness joins
me now and a very good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning, Carrie. How are you well?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I'm good. But I saw that the beaches were closed
because of course it rains in Auckland and the beaches
are closed. And that's the end of that. This interceptor
can't get online soon enough.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
The end is in sight. I mean, I never thought
back in twenty eighteen when I joined the project at
twenty twenty six or the lifetime away. And now the
finish line is very much in the sight. As you
said in your intro, we're about to hit Tarretus Street
in Graylyn with one more stop on her journey. And
(01:28):
she's done a lot of hard work. And you've been
into a section of the tunnel that no humans can
ever go back into again, because that section is about
to go alive. And it's just testimated the really amount
of hard work that everyone has put into this project
over the last six years. And oftens are going to
get a lifetime of benefits, which is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It is amazing, and to be a part of it
and to see the end of it as incredible too,
because so many people start off on projects and don't
get to see the ultimate result. And I know that
when we talk. When I came to see you said,
it's not going to be one hundred percent. You know
there are still going to be times we've had so
much rainfall that you're not going to be able to cope,
(02:09):
but it's certainly going to improve things for so many
people for generations to come.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Well.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
As they say, there's only two certainties in life, and
that's death in Texas. I'd love to say this will
take away every overflow, but you know, we had those
Niversary floods almost two years ago. That volume of water nothing,
there's no engineering solution for that. But it will make
a massive improvement in the reduction of overflows that happened
(02:35):
now every time it rains, and we saw that it
was a little bit of rain recently and the weekend
and you know, the red and black flags came back again.
No one wants that just project.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
No, it's a damning indictment on our communities, isn't it
when you see those.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Ah. Look, you know when Auckland was built back in
the turn of the century, this is what you know
societies did, and societies all around the world are grappling
with us. What we've been very fortunate is that water
Care a long time go started planning for this and
I've been very fortunate to be the one that gets
to deliver it. But the people of ALcom will get
(03:11):
to enjoy the benefits for generations to come. And good
things take time. But as I say, it's really getting
post now and it's just fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
But we saw the way she got Burrow. Yeah, it
does take time. But she was slow, she was steady,
she was relentless, She just kept on boring.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
She has done a fantastic job, and you know the
reality is that we'd rather do it right and do
it once, yeah, and become the surveyors of the heroes
of this. They make her come out exactly on target.
And I don't think people really understand the engineering it's
gone been involved, from tunneling all the way from Margery
(03:50):
through the Gray Line. It has been very trying at times,
but we've got a very skilled team, a world class contractor,
and we're you know, the enders in sight.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
How many other cities, towns around New Zealand need to
have something similar, perhaps not to the scale that we've seen,
need to have something similar in their backyards.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think a lot of our older cities have got
the same problem and we're all grappling with which is
they've changed over time. The infrastructure wasn't upgraded at the
time and the type of solution though, depends on the city.
We were very, very fortunate that the way the waste
for the system was designed, we could introduce the central
(04:35):
interceptor and integrated into our existing network. Other cities won't
be so fortunate, so they may have to go down
the separation route. Really, what we need is each community
to work out the best solution to get the best
outcome for the lowest possible costs.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah. Yeah, I won't even I won't even engage you
in whether three waters was the right answer or the
next iteration is going to be the right answer. But
I mean, what we've seen is a commitment being made
and it being delay it, which is just you know,
I know it shouldn't be remarkable, but it kind of
is in this day and age.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I think Waterkey has got a very proud history of delivering,
from the upgrade of the MANGERI wastewater treatment plant in
the early two thousands, which took it from being an
oxidation based system to a very advanced treatment process, to
the delivery of the white out of water treatment plant
in the early two thousands following the drought in the
nineteen nineties, and this last year we've we delivered for
the first time ever in our history of billion dollars
(05:34):
with the capital works. So as an example of what
our industry can do, I think water Care I'm very
proud of the work that my team does and what
we do in serving the people of Awokland. I know
we often have our critics. Sometimes we don't get it right,
but I really do believe we get it more right
than wrong. And you know we're leaving a better city,
(05:56):
which is all you can already ask for when you
work for an organization like watercre Well.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And I so you've got a brand new, spanking new
role chief Program Delivery Officer. What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It means I'm responsible for delivering all the infrastructure programs
across water here. What do they say, if you want something,
don't give it to a busy person. Look, I'm very
very proud to be asked to come in and do that.
I'm leading, leading the whole team, and I'm really really
excited about the program of work we've got a head because,
as I say, it's a changed to leave a legacy
(06:27):
for Auckland, and you very really get to say you
can do that. But see, I has been a great
experience to date, but now we've got so much more
else to do as well.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Absolutely, oh my goodness, and doing it right at the
CADELPA culture for team staying on to help you deliver.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Look, I'd love to stay in New Zealand. They've got
to find projects that suit their business model, and I
think there will be some. I would hate for us
to lose the expertise we've built over the last six years.
The wheels the wheel for a very good reason, but
unfortunate at times. We're very good at reinventing it. But
(07:05):
I feel they'll be successful in New Zealand going forward.
And there's enough work and he's enough infrastructure work to
keep a lot of contractors busy, and so I'm ready
optimistic for the future ahead of us.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Thanks so much, Shane. I just want to wish you
a very merry Christmas.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Ah be hearing or for your listeners, and thanks for
your support over the years. And we look forward to
seeing it the final breakthrough and we'll have them. We'll
have a bit of a party, I think, so it'll
be fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Most excellent Shane Kerners. What a chief program delivery officer
soon soon to be the chief program delivery officer for
thirteen billion dollars of new treatment plants, pipes, pump stations.
Very exciting.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
For more from Kerry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news talks. It'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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