Yesterday, the children of New Lynn Kindergarten stepped away from the classroom to paint their well-wishes and handprints onto the metal exterior of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) about to start work on the Clinker Place Stormwater Pipeline project for Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters. The TBM will pass directly beneath the New Lynn Kindergarten and naming the TBM has been a great way to engage with the children and wider community as part of this project.
The kids came up with an imaginative new name for the TBM: Princess Twilight Super Worm, a name that follows the tradition of TBMs carrying a female moniker. Tamariki drew on their literary knowledge, connecting the actions of the TBM with one of their favourite stories Superworm by Julia Donaldson. They voted on the name during mat time, where voting is a regular part of the kaupapa helping them learn to make decisions based upon their learning experiences. Getting up close to Princess Twilight Super Worm is a great opportunity for tamariki to extend their knowledge.
Princess Twilight Super Worm is about to start her work on the Clinker and Ambrico Place stormwater improvement project, tunnelling a distance of 550m underground from Rankin Avenue, New Lynn to an outfall in Manawa Wetland Reserve over the next eight months. This $25 million project will facilitate growth in the area, paving the way for a new housing development and a new community park.
Auckland Council Healthy Waters General Manager Craig McIlroy said “we recognise that while our infrastructure projects have many benefits, they can also create disruption to communities, so it’s wonderful to be able to enhance the experience for New Lynn Kindergarten and I’d like to thank them and the local community for their patience while we carry out our work in the area”.
Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure General Manager Alastair Blacker said “It’s great to be delivering this important infrastructure project for Auckland Council. This initiative to involve the children of New Lynn Kindergarten to name and paint our TBM has been great fun and aligns with our mission to build better communities”.
Both Auckland Council Healthy Waters and Abergeldie are working to involve the local community where possible and plan to host a community day when the nearby Ambrico Reserve is reinstated next year.
About Abergeldie
Abergeldie is a civil engineering contractor with 30 years’ experience providing services in the utilities, energy and infrastructure sectors: the complex infrastructure needed to build better communities.
