Downer to deliver America’s Cup infrastructure

04/05/2018

The Downer and McConnell Dowell consortium has been selected as the preferred construction partner for the infrastructure required to host the 36th America’s Cup (AC36) in Auckland, New Zealand.

The infrastructure development will include ground improvements, dredging, and construction of wharf extensions, breakwaters, marine and port accessory structures and services, extensions to existing private and public services (including stormwater, wastewater, potable water, power and telecommunications), construction of eight temporary and permanent yachting syndicate bases and construction of public access ways, amenity areas and public realm.

The proposal also involves additional marine infrastructure to support the AC36 activities. This includes areas to accommodate vessels competing in associated challenger and regatta, support boats and superyachts associated with the syndicates and their supporters.

Downer and McConnell Dowell will collaborate with the Project Alliance Designer under an Alliance model, initially developing preliminary conceptual design, consenting processes and cost preparation. The Alliance will be led by Project Director Ian Campbell, who has delivered outstanding outcomes on major civil and marine infrastructure projects in New Zealand, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

“We will be proud to deliver a legacy project and world-class infrastructure that delivers best value and benefit for Emirates Team New Zealand, Auckland, and our country,” says Ian Campbell.

The Alliance will be represented on the Project Alliance Board by Downer’s John Burden, Executive General Manager Infrastructure Projects and McConnell Dowell Managing Director Fraser Wyllie.

The consortium will work to a tight timeframe for a project of this scale. While the main AC36 races (Challenger and Cup series) will be held over January to March 2021 for Auckland, the race series starts in December 2020. Syndicates want to be set up a year in advance, which means the infrastructure to host the team bases needs to be ready in late 2019.

Downer and McConnell Dowell have worked collaboratively to deliver public realm infrastructure for many years, including Christchurch’s SH1 Russley Road Upgrade and Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 and the City Rail Link 2 contract in Auckland. Both companies have vast New Zealand alliancing experience and collectively have delivered 19 Alliance projects in New Zealand.

They have also delivered a number of significant public infrastructure projects in Auckland, including Silo Park and the Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Park Hyatt, Viaduct Events Centre, Te Wero Island, Gaunt and Halsey St Upgrades, Westhaven Promenade, the Holcim Depot, and the first two stages of City Rail Link.