Fulton Hogan/John Holland JV (FHJH JV) working on the Central Plains Irrigation Scheme

The first sod was officially turned for the $375 million Central Plains Irrigation Scheme near Hororata in Canterbury, New Zealand by Prime Minister John Key.

First conceived in 2001, Stage 1 of the 60,000 ha scheme is expected to deliver water to 20,000 ha of Central Canterbury in September next year.

The first major work on the $140 million first stage, comprising the 17km-long headrace canal, river intake structures and bridges, has now commenced with construction of the 130km-long pipeline network picking up momentum mid-year.

The Fulton Hogan John Holland JV is delivering Stage 1 of the Central Water Plains Irrigation Scheme.

The project is being delivered by the Fulton Hogan/John Holland JV (FHJH JV) on the headrace canal and Downers for the pipe network.

Fulton Hogan’s Peter Wissel, Project Manager, said the FHJHJV expects to employ up to 100 people over the next 12 months with works ramping up this month.

“Our plan is to have the headrace canal and bridges finished by the middle of next year, including lining the canal,” Peter said.

“This means we should be able to complete the canal in time for the start of the irrigation season in September 2015.

As well as the Prime Minister, other notables in attendance at the ceremony were the Rt Hon Gerry Brownlee, Rt Hon David Carter, Hon Nathan Guy and the mayors of Selwyn (Kelvin Coe) and Ashburton (Angus McKay).

Project in profile

• Fulton Hogan/John Holland JV has less than 18 months to build the 17km-long headrace canal.
• Constructing the headrace and canal requires the movement of 2.67 million cubic metres of earth, which includes 410,000m3 of topsoil, the equivalent of removing the topsoil from 125 hectares. The team will also need to install 550,000m3 of HDPE liner.
• The project involves building 13 bridges spanning approximately 25m each (10 farm bridges and 3 public road bridges).
• For Stage 1 it is estimated the Fulton Hogan/John Holland JV will use up to four teams of 6 x Cat 627 scrapers to keep to the timetable. The scrapers will work in pairs (push-pull configuration) to scrape off the topsoil layer followed by the subsoil and then the substratum material.
• From edge to edge, including side roads, the canal will be around 40m wide and 17km long. It will have a capacity of 33m3 per second and is designed to withstand a one-in-100 year flood in the Rakaia River.

For more information about the Central Plains Water Project go to http://www.cpwl.co.nz/