Untreated human effluent will be trucked into Goulburn to test how well the upgraded wastewater treatment plant works.
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Construction is due to be finished on the $30 million improvement of the Ross Street facility at the end of July. But the council’s utilities director Marina Hollands said it would firstly go through a commissioning phase for which it was necessary to source “material” in large volumes.
Untreated effluent from Lower Molonglo in the ACT and Bowral will be trucked into Goulburn in tankers from the end of July.
“We’ll do it over two days so we need a certain volume to get the plant started,” she said.
“We plan to truck it constantly over two days to get as much as we can.”
Mrs Hollands said Environment Protection Authority (EPA) approval wasn’t needed because this was the way councils kick-started wastewater treatment plants.
The project was a hot topic of discussion at the recent council meeting. Councillors were told an extra $75,000 would be needed to pay for construction management on the upgrade, which was running a month over schedule.
In November, 2016 councillors approved a $400,000 allocation to Hunter H2O to oversee the project. This contract sits separate to the $23.3 million agreement with Haslin Constructions to build the plant.
In a report, Mrs Hollands said work was due to be finished at the end of May but it now wouldn’t be completed until the end of June.
As such, the construction management also had to continue for another month, at an estimated cost of $75,000.
She told councillors that the site manager had actually saved the council money because he was able to pick up on any defects instantly and have them addressed.
“He is there on the ground making sure the work is done how we need it,” she said.
The council was paying Hunter an average $20,000 to $22,000 a month to do the job but she hoped it wouldn’t reach the $75,000.
But the project delay bothered some councillors.
Cr Andrew Banfield questioned whether it was due to wet weather or other circumstances.
“Are there any penalties to be issued to the prime contractor (Haslin) to offset the cost?” he asked.
“I just feel if wet weather hasn’t contributed to the extension then there should be some kind of penalty issued.”
Mrs Hollands said wet weather was not the main issue but the work’s scale, size and the contractor’s ability to complete it.
“It hasn’t gone through to practical completion yet and at that stage we can apply penalties. But we’re not at that point yet. We have sent warnings out,” she told the meeting.
A monthly update on progress revealed 103 lost days, some of which had been recovered. Wet weather and high winds accounted for a total 43 days lost and resourcing and supply issues – 48 days. A “high turnover of key personnel onsite” had also contributed.
The council has directed the company to make good, possibly with overtime, additional shifts and resources and rescheduling of activities.
“Whilst this continues to be frustrating, we are in discussions with Haslin to work together in ensuring that construction is completed as close to the contractual date as possible,” the report stated
“The council focus is still to ensure that the quality is not impacted and that we manage the costs to keep them to a minimum.”
Council officers met with company representatives on June 12 to thrash out the issues.
Council general manager Warwick Bennett said he hoped it wouldn’t reach the stage where penalties were issued.
“We’re working very closely with (Haslin) and there is no negativity between us,” he said.
“There are some timing issues (but) I want to make it clear we’re really pleased with the way the contract is going. It’s taking a lot longer but the quality of the work is superb and the total outcome is going to be really high in terms of environmental standards.
“Let’s remember this tenderer was $7m less than any other one. They’re struggling to ensure everything is done on time, we acknowledge that, but we’re still under the budget that’s been set. I’m pleased with way it’s going.”
An open day for the public is being planned for July.
Once operational, the facility will also supply highly treated effluent for irrigation on the city’s sporting fields.