Procurement and Contracts - National Park And Tunnel Ralph Smith Project Controls Manager – Memorial Park Alliance

Abstract

A Project of Regional, National and International significance that was is being delivered within just over 2.5 years from announcement through to opening.

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is being constructed as the Government’s major project to commemorate the First World War. To make the park happen, Buckle Street (State Highway 1) had to be put underground in a “cut and cover” tunnel.

The project has a short timeframe and strict deadline. Following the Government’s announcement of the project on 7 August 2012, the Memorial Park Alliance began planning and first broke ground on site on 3 October 2012. The tunnel was opened on the night of Sunday 28 September 2014 and the park will be completed by 31 March 2015 (only 966 days after the announcement) to enable preparations for Anzac Day, 25 2015.

The project is being delivered by the Memorial Park Alliance, comprising NZ Transport Agency, Downer NZ, HEB, Tonkin and Taylor and URS.

Key Words

War Memorial Park; Empowering Act; Alliance; Anzac; NZTA; MPA

Introduction This paper will describe the process employed, together with the timelines that Pukeahu National War Memorial Park was enabled the project to be constructed within constructed as the Government’s major the timefame stated above. project to commemorate the First World War. Investor Stakeholders To make the park happen, Buckle Street The Memorial Park project stakeholders are: (State Highway 1) had to be put underground the Government, represented by in a “cut and cover” tunnel. the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the The project had a short timeframe and strict New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), and deadline. Following the Government’s local authority Wellington City Council. announcement of the project on 7 August Alliance Participants 2012, the Memorial Park Alliance began The project was delivered by the Memorial planning and first broke ground on site on 3 Park Alliance, comprising; NZ Transport October 2012. The tunnel was officially Agency, Downer, HEB, Tonkin and Taylor and opened on the night of Sunday 28th URS (AECOM). September 2014 and practical completion of the Park was agreed on 25th March 2015. Location The official opening will be on the 18th April to allow final preparations for Anzac Day, 25 The project occupied a site approximately the April 2015. size of three rugby pitches in a bustling part of central Wellington. A school, a university, businesses and residential apartments are cheek-by-jowl with an often-noisy site and The ‘pure alliance’ model differs from other where vehicle and foot traffic is heavy. All of alliance models in that it is an inclusive model Wellington’s most important underground which has the Owner as an alliance partner. services traversed the site including historic The owner shares equally in the success or brick sewers and major power lines which, due failure of the alliance. to time and cost limitations, had to be avoided so directly impacted the design and the This type of alliance is normally used for physical works. projects of high risk, high complexity coupled with tight delivery schedules. Background The Alliance concept was first used in The National War Memorial was built in 1932 Australasia in Western and was and its tall tower made it visible from most introduced into New Zealand early to mid parts of the city as well as from ships entering 2000’s. the harbour. The intent at the time was to create a Formation of the Alliance boulevard linking the War Memorial to Courtenay Place. This never eventuated and During June and July, 2012 the 2 selected the War Memorial became semi isolated in a Alliance groups were asked to present their semi industrial zone as the city grew around it. attributes for selection. During this time there were also interactive sessions held with NZTA. In 2005 the government acquired the land in The successful Alliance was announced in front of the War Memorial to create a New July, 2012, and an Interim Project Alliance Zealand Memorial Park Agreement (IPAA) was signed between the In August 2012 the government announced parties. the plan for Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, which included putting Buckle Street Work immediately commenced on the underground in order to create a unified relocation of Buckle Street and other approved national memorial precinct. enabling works whilst the pricing and commercial agreements were being Procurement Strategy negotiated.

The project was initiated in January 2012 as a The Project Alliance Agreement was Competitive Alliance with the primary objective concluded and sealed by all parties during of constructing the Basin Reserve flyover, March, 2013 should a consent be approved. Memorial Park Empowering Act 2012 A total of 4 Alliance groups were shortlisted of which 2 were selected during April, 2012 to During October, 2012 the Government proceed to the Pre Interim Project Alliance approved and issued the National War Agreement phase. Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Act 2012. During this phase the 2 selected Alliance groups were to provide an interim design, This Act was to empower the creation of the assist with the consenting process as well as National War Memorial Park and also to provide confidence in the constructability. ensure its completion by April’ 2015, the centenary of the commencement of the Sometime during May, 2012 the Government Campaign of the First World War. The instructed NZTA to construct an underpass on Act was approved by broad consensus across Buckle Street in front of the Carillon to the house. facilitate the construction of a National War Memorial Park. As the park was to be The Act granted NZTA and the Ministry of completed for the 100th Anzac celebration Culture and Heritage (MCH) all the required NZTA revised the original procurement resource consents, designation and building process to that of a ‘Pure Alliance’ so as to consents. fast track the construction of the underpass. The Act also facilitated amendments of In parallel with the pricing, design was being statutory authorisations granted by the Act done so as to keep ahead of construction together with allowing independent which had already commenced. Issued for certification of plans and documents required construction drawings were being released to by the conditions of the Act. the construction teams with the ink barely dry.

Conclusion The project was completed within 966 days of being announced (7th August, 2012 thru 31st The National War Memorial Park was a project March, 2015). This was made possible by the of National and International significance that contracting format together with the had to be completed within extremely tight Empowering Act which granted consents and timeframes. designations which under normal circumstances would have gone through the The Procurement tools and strategy was RMA process, and could have added months therefore critical to the success or otherwise of to the process. the project. The National War Memorial Park and The New Zealand Transport Agency, as the Underpass project was delivered ahead of owner and operator of the State Highways, time, within budget whilst maintaining the had to undertake the undergrounding of highest quality standards. The project is Buckle Street (SH 1) to facilitate the testament to the success of collaborative construction of the War Memorial Park. contracting which allows all parties to focus on the common goal of successful delivery. As the Agency was experienced in delivering projects of this magnitude and complexity they Pukeahu National War Memorial Park project were engaged by the Ministry of Culture and is being held as a flagship for collaborative Heritage to deliver the National War Memorial contracting that has successfully delivered a Park. project of Local, National and International significance and cultural importance. In electing to deliver the project by way of an Alliance rather than a conventional contract, NZTA were able to approve commencement of construction whilst pricing agreement was being finalised.

Biography on Ralph Smith

I am trained Quantity Surveyor with 40 years of experience in the construction industry, the last 20 years as Manager of Project Controls Teams. I have worked on some major construction projects throughout Africa and Southern Africa and during the last 7 years in New Zealand. Projects worked on have been varied and included Roads and Earthworks, Civil Structures, Industrial Plants, Oil and Gas, High Rise Buildings and Road Maintenance.

I have a passion for delivering Projects of National and International significance within tight time schedules, to budget and of exceptional quality. I have developed a passion for the Alliance form of contracting and have served on the Management Teams of two Project Alliances during the past seven years.