Kia Ora
Following our construction update earlier this month we wanted to let you know about other interesting stories in the area and with the project, including how we are preparing our team to begin work underground!
If you have any questions please contact us by replying to this email or phone 0800 CRL TALK and select option 4.
Warm regards,
The Karangahape Station team
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Start to D-walls, the first permanent pieces of the station
Construction of the station’s Diaphragm walls (D-walls) in Mercury Lane has begun. These perimeter walls are the first permanent elements of the station to be built, so it’s kind of a big deal for the team.
The construction process involves a grab rig excavating through clay to the rock layer 10-metres beneath the surface. A hydrofraise machine then uses twin cutting heads to excavate a further 20-meters, to a depth of 30-metres.
Throughout the process bentonite slurry is pumped through the excavation to provide positive pressure, ensuring the trench remains stable.
The next step sees a steel reinforcing cage lowered into the trench. Concrete is then poured through a pipe into the bottom of the trench, displacing the bentonite which is pumped back into the bentonite plant.
In total 26, D-wall panels will form the 'station box' for Karangahpe Station at Mercury Lane
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Info Hub open on Beresford Square
If you have any questions about the City Rail Link project, be it the project as a whole or just want to know what works are planned in the next few weeks around Karanghape, please visit our new Information Hub, which is opening next week on Beresford Square!
Located in-between Johnny Feedback and the Northern Line pub our Info Hub will be open throughout the week to provide any information you may need and to help with any questions you may have.
Come learn about the history of the area, the project’s goals and values and what it will mean for transport in the area in the future.
Current opening times are 9-12 Tuesday to Friday and 4-6pm Thursday.
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Sustainability Goals
Sustainability is a cornerstone of thinking in the building of the City Rail Link. We aim to build New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project without using unnecessary resources or creating unnecessary waste. There is no New Zealand sustainability standard for infrastructure, so we have embraced and enhanced the ISCA framework, working with Mana Whenua to make it more appropriate for the New Zealand context.
Specific to Karangahape Station a new system was installed at the Mercury Lane construction site earlier this year that helps meet the sustainability goals of the project by cleaning and filtering water used on site during construction. Since its installment, approximately 163,000 litres of water has been processed on site. The ability do this onsite removes the need to transport the water to a distant water processing site, helping to reduce carbon emissions. In the future this water will be able to be repurposed on site for things such as dust suppression and cleaning.
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Underground Training
With the access shaft in Mercury Lane progressing rapidly, and excavation of the tunnel scheduled to start in ten weeks, training has begun for all our team that will be venturing underground.
Safety procedures are heightened when working underground so our team, both those experienced and new to tunnel work, are being sent on two day training course to gain mining and tunnelling certifications.
On top of learning about the safety precautions and new hazards the training also involves practical exercises. Those on the course must venture through a simulation of a smoke filled tunnel with obstacles while using breathing equipment and later extinguish a live fire!
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Meet the team – Arash Barzin, Development Response Manager
What does your job involve?
I am the Development Response Manager for Karangahape Station, not many people understand what my role involves and generally think I’m a bit of a busy body. We aim to mitigate impacts to businesses and community from surrounding construction. We can help the community through the implementation of the Development Response Management Plan which sets out measures in line with other works plans so we can ensure access for customers, supply chain and business continuity. We regularly engage with local businesses and in particular the Karangahape Business Association. We also get to be involved with some awesome stuff like artwork for the hoardings, activations and placemaking to keep the outskirts of our sites alive and maintain Karangahape as a cool area to hang out during construction.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in London and grew up on Bonnie Dundee, Scotland from 4 years old until I moved to NZ in 2006.
Where were you working prior to this?
I was working at Panuku development in a similar role for the waterfront of Auckland. There is a lot of construction activity happening at the same time in a relatively small area, it was my job to make sure everyone was one happy whānau. I got to help out on the Americas Cup 36 project and co-ordinate development activity in the Wynyard Quarter.
A fun fact is when I was at AT I helped initiate the Karangahape Road enhancements project, it’s good to actually see the project in construction.
What do you do when you are not working?
When not hanging out with friends and family, I used to in the olden days collect vinyl records and still have my collection today. I am embarrassed to say I used to DJ a lot in most bars and clubs in Auckland and even got on the radio a few times. Recently I was in Flying Out across from our Beresford Square site attending to a stakeholder query and was checking out all the vinyl. I think that it is my duty in helping support local businesses I add to my vinyl collection every week. Also the Northern Line bar there is an open decks night where you can bring your own tunes and play them. So when I’m not working I’m hanging out on Karangahape road spending my pocket money.
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The Mercury Plaza – new neighbour
While walking down Cross Street you may notice the colourful calligraphy establishing the new venue for sandwiches and homemade pies on Cross Street. That’s because we have yet another new neighbour to the area! The location, previously known as Cross Street Market has been taken over by new owners and a warm and welcoming café has taken its place by the name of Mercury Plaza.
Established by the owners of Sunset Tattoo the new café offers homemade cakes, sandwiches and pies, coffee by millers and a space to showcase local artists.
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