South Canterbury

Pareora water project approaches finish line with completion of section three

Two of the three sectopms of the Pareora pipeline project have now been commissioned bringing the $15 million project a major step closer to completion.

The existing Pareora pipeline, installed in the 1930s, is a critical pipeline that carries water 37km from the upper Pareora River intake to the Claremont water treatment plant and reservoir on the outskirts of Timaru. It provides approximately 60 percent of water consumed annually from the Timaru Water Supply. Drainage and water manager Grant Hall said that the completion of this section offers better supply capacity and resilience for the network. “Recent events have underlined the importance of this project, so it’s great for the Timaru residents and the business community that we’ve managed to complete this critical piece of water infrastructure ahead of time,” he says. “With the majority of the pipeline now complete, we can go back to using our full allocation from the Pareora source and reduce our reliance on the Opihi supply, while we work on long term options for the secondary intake. “Completing this job three months ahead of schedule wouldn’t have been possible without a significant and dedicated effort from our contractors and subcontractors, so I’d like to take the opportunity to thank them on behalf of the whole community.” The Pareora Pipeline has been designed as three overlapping projects, which has enabled the job to be locally delivered using a majority of local contractors. The final section of the project is the technically complex section through the Pareora Gorge, where an innovative pipe lining technology will be used rather than a replacement of the pipe. “The city engineers 90 years ago designed a really effective path through the Gorge, which we really couldn’t improve on, and it’s a site of high natural and cultural value,” Grant says. “The use of proven pipe lining technology enables us to reuse the existing pipelines and reduces the need for significant groundworks along the gorge, it’s also quicker to install and more flexible so allows for the ground movement that can be experienced.” The SaniTube liner, which we first used in New Zealand as part of the Downlands upgrade, is a special woven textile liner that brings pipelines back to better than their original strength. The liner for section two of the project is currently en-route to New Zealand and is planned to be installed from May 2022 onwards. CT

The use of proven pipe lining technology enables us to reuse the existing pipelines and reduces the need for significant groundworks along the gorge, it’s also quicker to install and more flexible

so allows for the ground movement that can be experienced. ”

The third section of the pipeline, laying 13.5km of new pipeline between Pareora Gorge Road to Claremont was accelerated to offer better security of supply following the Timaru water discolouration incident.

Ara expands on local delivery for South Canterbury trades apprentices

South Canterbury trades employers are buzzing with the news that their year three electrical apprentices can now undertake part-time study at Ara Institute of Canterbury in Timaru, while continuing to work locally in the region.

An agreement between Ara Institute of Canterbury and The Skills Organisation Incorporated (Skills), sees Ara deliver the Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory & Practice (Trade) Level 4, to Skills Electrical apprentices (Year 3), at Ara’s Timaru campus. There are currently six apprentices enrolled in the programme who are attending Ara for face-to-face training one day per fortnight for the duration of their third apprenticeship year. Following consultation with local industry, including Skills and Venture Timaru, it was determined this delivery model was the best option for apprentices and employers, since it spaces out time spent away from the workplace. “As a region, South Canterbury continues to enjoy high employment rates, meaning the number of people taking part in on-the-job training and apprenticeships is on the rise,” says Dr Glynnis Brook executive director of Academic, Innovation and Research at Ara. “Working with industry partners and other Te Pukenga institutes, Ara can help open new doors for learners, in terms of providing accessible, regional learning, which is tailored to local needs.” Ara’s provision of this electrical course at the Timaru campus is welcome news for local industry to be able to train and retain skilled electrical workers in the region. “We have always recommended that those looking for an electrical career complete Level 2 and 3 at Ara to kickstart an apprenticeship. “The ability to now continue off-job training locally with Ara towards completion of the Level 4 qualification is of real benefit to both apprentices and their employers,” adds Erin McNaught, director of Business Services & People at Industrial Controls. Another industry collaboration resulting in a new delivery is the Painting and Decorating Block Course which Ara is contracted to deliver for stage one BCITO apprentices with intakes in July and October. Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Woolston campus in Christchurch has traditionally been the only provider in the South Island to deliver block courses in painting and decorating. In 2021, Venture Timaru and Master Painters NZ (the national representative body for the painting industry) jointly approached BCITO about catering to local apprentices in South Canterbury. “To have apprentices undertake training at Ara in Timaru means that our workers can learn from the comfort of their hometown. “We’ve also found that it’s been a tremendous help for our apprentices to have local training on a campus that’s purpose built for our trades, with great facilities and amenities,” explains Grant Jenkins, owner of Grant Jenkins Contracting in Timaru. As well as partnering with Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) in South Canterbury, Ara has also been assisting Otago Polytechnic in the set-up of a BCITO Painting and Decorating Block Course in the Otago region. Nigel Davenport, chief executive at Venture Timaru says the Timaru District’s economic and tourism agency is thrilled to see both the electrical and painting and decorating courses being provided locally to meet the needs of industry. “We are entering a period of unparalleled development and construction in the district across key projects such as the Scott Base Redevelopment build, the Theatre/Heritage project and the extension to Aorangi Stadium. “There are so many opportunities for our rangatahi to be part of it all. “It is therefore hugely important that we add even more locally based training options going forward, especially for our construction and trades sectors to provide training in a way that first and foremost works best for industry and their workforce.” CT