Local company Landholdings Limited (Landholdings) will start construction work to improve the resilience of the public water supply ring main later this week. Landholdings have spent the last week preparing, including installing signage, setting up on site and arranging temporary connections for affected businesses.
The upgrade work will be supervised by the Te Mato Vai Project Management Unit (PMU) and managed in collaboration with To Tatou Vai and Infrastructure Cook Islands.
The new polyethylene pipe being installed conforms to AS/NZS 4130:2009 Polyethylene (PE) pipes for pressure applications. Quality control measures are in place to ensure all work adheres to international standards. This includes cleaning the new pipes before they are used to carry water, to ensure they don’t contaminate the water supply.
Landholdings has in-depth knowledge of the water supply network, having successfully completed an earlier contract to connect the water supply sub-main from private and commercial properties to the new ring mains around Rarotonga.
“Landholdings Ltd is proud to be part of the Te Mato Vai clean drinking water solution in Rarotonga. We are very pleased that yet again a Cook Island company, its affiliates and Cook Island trades men and women are constructing a quality long term asset for all Cook Islanders and visitors to enjoy,” John Batty, Landholdings Contractors Representative.
Landholdings will begin work on two sites at a time, and is expected to complete the project by mid-2020.
The first areas to be upgraded are a 3.25km section between Uruau Drive and Pokoinu Road in Nikao (Site A) and a 2.1km section between Kauare Road and Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Titikaveka (Site E). These sections are due to be completed in January 2020.
The Nikao/Arorangi section is a priority because the ring main on the inner road behind the airport is a single vital link from Avatiu intake to the Nikao and Arorangi area. The upgrade will provide a 100-year design life for these critical sectors of the network.
The works will involve trenching along sections of Ara Tapu, removing the existing trunk main pipe, and welding the new pipe next to the trench before moving it into the trench and reinstating the road or berm. Construction hours will be 7:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, and 7:00am to 4:00pm on Saturdays.
Landholdings will maintain two lanes through work areas where possible, but will need to reduce traffic to one lane in some places, using a ‘stop go’ system. They will work with the affected community to ensure driveway access is maintained as required.
Commercial properties connected to the existing PE trunk main have been temporarily connected to the existing AC main or provided with an alternative supply. Residential properties may experience temporary loss of water supply, but this will be communicated in advance and managed on a case-by-case basis. Testing and commissioning of the main, including shut-downs will be coordinated with To Tatou Vai.
The PMU, To Tato Vai and Landholdings will work collaboratively to ensure affected residents and businesses are notified before construction begins in their area and about any expected disruptions.
The PMU will be posting public notices to the Te Mato Vai and To Tatou Vai website and Facebook pages – please check these regularly to stay up to date with the project.
Please contact To Tatou Vai with any queries on (682) 24479 or (682) 52943 after hours.