Building resilient wastewater capacity for a rapidly growing region
Rubix is supporting Queenstown Lakes District Council in delivering the Upper Clutha Wastewater Conveyance Scheme, a major infrastructure upgrade connecting connecting Lake Hāwea to centralised treatment at Project Pure, while improving network resilience in Wānaka and Albert Town. Construction began in May 2025 and is programmed for completion in 2027, forming part of a 67-month overall programme to futureproof the Upper Clutha’s wastewater servicing.
Scope and Project Leadership
The scheme delivers a modern, integrated conveyance system that enables long-term growth across Hāwea, Wānaka, and Albert Town. Key components include 12.5 km of rising main from Hāwea’s new Domain Road pump station to Albert Town, a further 7.4 km of rising main to Project Pure, and upgrades to the Riverbank Road Wastewater Pump Station (WWPS) and the Project Pure inlet works. Redundant assets, including the Hāwea Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), will be decommissioned once the new conveyance pathway is operational. Rubix provides project management and Engineer’s Representative services under NZS 3910, overseeing planning, procurement, construction delivery, staging, risk management, and integration with live operations.
Challenges and Delivery Approach
The project is being delivered within constrained transport corridors, an operational reticulation network, and environmentally sensitive areas. It requires complex staging of multiple pump station upgrades, long-reach pipeline installation, new easements, and carefully sequenced shutdowns and tie-ins at Albert Town and Project Pure. Rubix is mitigating these challenges through proactive construction planning, close coordination with designers and contractors, traffic and access management tailored to different work zones, early procurement of long-lead materials, and collaborative resolution of consenting, property, and iwi engagement matters.
Sustainability and Future Focused Outcomes
Using modern low-leakage pipelines, optimised alignments, and centralised treatment, the scheme significantly improves environmental performance and aligns with mana whenua values of kaitiakitanga. The project is currently tracking ahead of programme, within the approved investment envelope, and will deliver major improvements to network resilience, capacity, and long-term service levels across the Upper Clutha.
Points of Interest
- The project required multiple shutdowns and tie-ins at Albert Town and Project Pure, coordinated to maintain continuous wastewater service across a rapidly growing residential area.
- The installation of approximately 20 km of rising main through constrained transport corridors and environmentally sensitive areas demanded detailed staging, tailored traffic management, and the acquisition of new easements.
- The scheme enables the decommissioning of the Hāwea wastewater treatment plant, reducing long-term operational and environmental risks through centralisation at Project Pure.
