An international drilling company will carry out specialist work as part of a major upgrade of the East Clive Wastewater Treatment Plant, near Hastings.

Team Inc, whose headquarters are in Texas, will work alongside New Zealand’s Seipp Construction, which was awarded the $23 million contract to deliver the upgrade by Hastings District Council.

The upgrade will improve key components of the wastewater system, including the outfall pump station, which has been in operation for nearly 50 years, as well as the manifold and a section of the land-based outfall pipeline.

The council’s chief infrastructure officer Craig Thew said keeping the plant running during the upgrade was crucial. “One of the most complex parts of the project involves drilling a one-metre-diameter round hole into the existing large concrete outfall pipe while wastewater keeps flowing through it.”

He said the specialist skills and equipment needed for the work were not available in New Zealand. “Given the risk, we need companies that have people with the right experience, using the right equipment, so the plant can keep running safely while critical parts of the system are replaced.”

Hastings mayor Wendy Schollum said the work was a major investment in one of Hastings’ most important services. “Most people do not see this infrastructure, but every household and business relies on it every day,” she said.

She noted the equipment had served the community for decades and had provided excellent value, but it was at the end of its working life. “Replacing it at this point is the responsible thing to do. It helps protect public health, reduces risk to the environment, and avoids the much higher costs and risks of significant disruption that can come with emergency repairs.”

A spokesperson for the council said Seipp Construction was selected as the lead contractor following a competitive open tender procurement process.

Technical director Drew Griffen said Seipp was delighted to be appointed and looked forward to helping ensure the wastewater network remained resilient and reliable for the people of Hastings.

Part of the work will involve the wetland area near the treatment plant. The council has taken measures to minimise environmental impacts, including ecological assessments and bird surveys. Disturbed areas will be reinstated and replanted once construction is complete.

The project’s total budget is $36.8 million, made up of the $23.2m construction contract, contingency, contract management fees, project management fees, and council-supplied materials and equipment.

The spokesperson said the additional allowance was needed because the project was complex and carried risks. They said it would be reviewed as those risks were reduced during construction.

It is a two-year upgrade programme that will ensure the continued treatment and pumping of wastewater through to the expiry of the existing consent in 2049.

Most of the work will take place between 7am and 7pm from Monday to Friday, however, some work may need to be done outside these hours. Access to the stopbank and cycleway may be restricted at times later in the project.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.