Downer and McConnell Dowell Consortium Wins Auckland Deal

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 in Auckland, New Zealand.

The infrastructure development in Auckland’s Harbor will include ground improvements, dredging, construction of wharf extensions, breakwaters, marine and port accessory structures and services, extensions to existing private and public services, construction of seven 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.

The Downer – McConnell Dowell team will be collaborating with the Project Designers Beca and Tonkin & Taylor and working closely with Auckland Council and MBIE under an Alliance model.

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,” according to the official statement.

The consortium will be working to a tight timeframe for a project of this scale – whilst 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. Some of the syndicates want to be set up a year in advance, which means most of the infrastructure to host the team bases needs to be ready in late 2019.

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