Central Interceptor wins 2026 Survey and Spatial NZ Project Excellence Award

We're proud to share that the Ghella Abergeldie Joint Venture (GAJV) has won the 2026 Survey and Spatial New Zealand Project Excellence Award for the survey-led delivery of Watercare's Central Interceptor project.

As part of the GAJV, Abergeldie contributed to the delivery of New Zealand’s largest wastewater infrastructure project, where required surveying, spatial engineering and digital assurance systems were critical to the success of the project. 

A unique challenge of the project was the requirement for multiple tunnel breakthroughs to occur into pre-constructed permanent structures that could not be modified once tunnelling commenced. This meant the Tunnel Boring Machine had to arrive first time and precisely, within fixed operation points, across more than 16 kilometres of tunnel beneath Auckland.

To achieve this, the team developed a sophisticated spatial assurance system incorporating geodetic control networks, static GPS, underground traversing, gyroscopic orientation surveying, laser scanning and digital engineering workflows, providing the confidence to deliver multiple first-time-right breakthroughs.

This award recognises the innovation, technical excellence and collaboration of the surveying, engineering and construction teams who helped make this achievement possible while contributing to one of New Zealand's most significant infrastructure projects.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

Read more about the Central Interceptor project's other recent accolades.