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$70 MILLION PER KILOMETRE and now the extra cost blow out. Sadly, if you read local news from around the country you won't be surprised. The Peacock roundabout in Hamilton started at $4.7 million, now at least $19.5 million (although we are waiting on the final figures). Whangarei’s new … View more$70 MILLION PER KILOMETRE and now the extra cost blow out. Sadly, if you read local news from around the country you won't be surprised. The Peacock roundabout in Hamilton started at $4.7 million, now at least $19.5 million (although we are waiting on the final figures). Whangarei’s new Hundertwasser Art Centre is going from $16 million to $33 million. The multi-storied carpark in Tauranga, which the mayor wisely abandoned once the cost projections blew out to $19 million. The Nelson Dam costs blowing out by $25 million, not to mention transmission gully…
The list sadly goes on and on. How is it that these massive mistakes are made again and again? How is it that you can’t test the soil adequately before you start a project? How is it that costs on a building can blow out due to seismic strengthening needs? Surely any competent project manager figures these things out before they start? How is it that we seem to write council contracts in a way that means the ratepayer and taxpayer gets hit time and time again with these cost blowouts?
What does all this mean for ‘public consultation’? It is your money, how do you feel about the fact that plans you were ‘consulted on’, are no longer even in the ballpark of the figures they presented to you for that consultation? (Photos for illustration only)
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Highway costing $70 million per km set to get even more expensive due to pumice - Phil Pennington of RNZ
One of the country's most expensive stretches of new highway just got more costly - and further delayed - by buried pumice that wasn't spotted despite scores of ground tests.
The 2 kilometre stretch of the Bayfair to Baypark upgrade on SH2 south of Tauranga was already costing $70 million per kilometre - two to three times more than usual.
But three years after construction began in 2017, the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has realised the ground is not stable enough for what it is building, after a pumice layer was uncovered during work.
That forced an ongoing, major redesign and related changes to construction methodology and to the rest of the Bay Link programme.
NZTA said new equipment must be brought in, under a new contract, to begin building new flyover foundations, probably in November.
The highway is aimed to boost the local economy and safety for motorists.
Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell was surprised and frustrated. He was not aware of the issue until RNZ told him on Wednesday. “That is very frustrating for New Zealand's fastest-growing city.”
100 tests – no pumice
More than 100 ground tests were done before construction began, NZTA said.
But they failed to spot the pumice layer 12 metre underground, so groundworks carried on.
Tauranga is on the edge of the Taupō volcanic zone and Bay of Plenty has a lot of pumice underground.
The fact that groundworks failed to properly stabilise the ground only came to light after huge stone columns began going in 10 months ago.
That sparked more tests, including earlier this year at Auckland and Canterbury universities, and the scrapping of the original design.
NZTA said a new design was being finalised.
It was still working out the impacts on the project's cost and timing.
NZTA did not respond to an RNZ question about whether extra costs would fall on the taxpayer.
Even before the pumice problem forced the redesign the project costs had escalated from an early $102 million estimate to $146 million recently - and its completion had been pushed out from end of this year to end of 2022.
Other complications are the fallout from Covid-19 and an underpass being added to the project.
The B2B project, as it is called, aims to cut congestion on the final run into Tauranga at Baypark where the tolled Eastern Link highway stops - and the traffic slows to a crawl.
The flyovers will take traffic on State Highways 2 and 29 up over roads and the railway line.
The highway is also aimed to boost the local economy and safety for motorists.
Powell said it was vital to complete the region's Eastern Corridor.
“We've got congestion on many of our routes into and out of the city, and we have a tonne of work ahead of us for years to come, so that is very frustrating to learn,” he said.
NZTA has not explained how the pumice was not detected at the start.
“This type of testing is not unusual,” it said.
“Projects typically do continual tests of ground conditions as they progress through construction and this process can sometimes identify previously unknown ground conditions.”
The new design – a combination of stone columns and piles in a lattice framework – was “required to limit settlement and ensure the ground remains stable, ensuring the bridge [at Baypark] is able to withstand seismic events”.
The B2B is the latest problem project for the NZTA.
It is grappling with blowouts at the billion-dollar Transmission Gully highway, costly surface cracking on the Kapiti and Waikato highways, and extra engineering reviews and deck-panel testing at the Puhoi to Wellsford highway.
The main contractor at B2B, Australian major CPB, declined to comment. CPB is also key in the Transmission Gully alliance and lead contractor at the strife-hit Acute hospital project in Christchurch.
Powell said NZTA had been good to work with, but had not treated the council as a partner by not telling him about the B2B problems.
“I'm gonna pick up the phone and call the regional director and just try and get an understanding of what exactly has happened, and particularly why we aren't on the same songsheet in terms of communications.”
If you could ask any historical figure one question, who would it be and what would you ask?
Last November, we launched our new strategy, Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034. This strategy will help ensure we create opportunities for all of us to participate, contribute and be valued as we age. Many of the key areas for action in the strategy have become even more … View moreLast November, we launched our new strategy, Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034. This strategy will help ensure we create opportunities for all of us to participate, contribute and be valued as we age. Many of the key areas for action in the strategy have become even more relevant in the wake of COVID-19.
Click here to read our strategy and find out more about what we want to achieve and what needs to happen bit.ly...
Hey neighbours,
Here at Stuff Travel, our team of journalists have been furiously ferreting out Aotearoa’s best hidden gems. We've come across so many activities and places we never knew existed.
Typically, as soon as we report a great place on Stuff, the floodgates open. But … View moreHey neighbours,
Here at Stuff Travel, our team of journalists have been furiously ferreting out Aotearoa’s best hidden gems. We've come across so many activities and places we never knew existed.
Typically, as soon as we report a great place on Stuff, the floodgates open. But subscribe to our newsletter here for a free ticket to ride with our travel team each week as we explore the best of New Zealand.
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HERE IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY - Do take part in this NewsHub question
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New Zealand is one of the better countries at keeping the tobacco industry's influence on government policy, but the Cancer Society says New Zealand still needs to exercise vigilance.
New Zealand is currently ranked 5th on the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, behind the United … View moreNew Zealand is one of the better countries at keeping the tobacco industry's influence on government policy, but the Cancer Society says New Zealand still needs to exercise vigilance.
New Zealand is currently ranked 5th on the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, behind the United Kingdom and Uganda. With New Zealand's goal to be smokefree less than five years away, the Cancer Society warns that the tobacco industry will be looking for new ways to weaken health policy.
In late September, the Hamilton City Council ruled unanimously in favour of a ban on vaping in smokefree areas after principals said that an increase in vaping led to school children taking up smoking.
Do you think that New Zealand's going to achieve its goal to be smokefree by 2025?
*Please type NFP if you don't want your comment featured in the conversations section of the Hamilton Press
Take the scenic route this summer and enjoy exploring New Zealand at its best. With a myriad of accommodation all around our beautiful country, there is always a place you can #StayKiwi with us.
Stay one night, save 10%, stay two, save 19%, stay three or longer and you'll unlock up to 23% … View moreTake the scenic route this summer and enjoy exploring New Zealand at its best. With a myriad of accommodation all around our beautiful country, there is always a place you can #StayKiwi with us.
Stay one night, save 10%, stay two, save 19%, stay three or longer and you'll unlock up to 23% off when you book direct.
He’s small, he’s blue and he has a sack of 28 amazing presents that need to be given away in the lead up to Christmas.
Simply find the secret Santa code hidden within a post on your Neighbourly newsfeed and use this to enter the daily draw on our Santa in the Suburbs competition page.
… View moreHe’s small, he’s blue and he has a sack of 28 amazing presents that need to be given away in the lead up to Christmas.
Simply find the secret Santa code hidden within a post on your Neighbourly newsfeed and use this to enter the daily draw on our Santa in the Suburbs competition page.
Don't miss out on today's daily prize!
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Kids ask us for attention because they are learning how to navigate the world and build relationships - they need to be able to speak and be listened to so they can learn and grow. Challenge the #outdated rules - it’s time to shake off the old and reveal the new.
Anyone lost Bluetooth headphones in park at Darjon drive this morning or late yesterday evening ..?
If you can tell me the make and other details which confirms the original owner, then they will be handed.
Kia ora - my name is Kirsten and I'm the Archivist & Alumni Administrator at Sacred Heart Girls' College in Hamilton East.
This year I have created a HERstory Calendar 2021, which is unique to Sacred Heart and the Hamilton East area. Historical photographs range from the 1940s … View moreKia ora - my name is Kirsten and I'm the Archivist & Alumni Administrator at Sacred Heart Girls' College in Hamilton East.
This year I have created a HERstory Calendar 2021, which is unique to Sacred Heart and the Hamilton East area. Historical photographs range from the 1940s through to today, and include St Mary's Convent & Chapel, the Cathedral and you'll recognise the Riverina in the background of one too.
Also included are artifacts from our archival collection and quotes from our founder, Euprahsie Barbier. All 2021 school term dates are included, as are the religious holidays and feast days. The calendar goes to January 2022.
Having been part of the Hamilton East community for over 135 years, we would love to have your support. Calendars are available for $20 each using this Order Form: forms.gle...
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