Enhancement of Kwun Tong Sewage Pumping Station, Hong Kong

NEC has been used to procure an innovative sewage pumping station upgrade in Hong Kong, the roof deck of which has been landscaped to create a new seaside park. The Drainage Services Department (DSD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China let a HK$493 million (£49 million) NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) Option C (target contract with activity schedule) to China Geo-Engineering Corporation in December 2017.

The works involved construction of a new 16,000 m³ balancing tank and ancillary facilities at the existing Kwun Tong sewage pumping station next to Victoria Harbour. The tank now temporarily retains excess preliminarily treated sewage discharged from the upgraded Kwun Tong preliminary treatment works next door. A new plant house has been built to enclose the tank and pumping station along with a three-tier odour management system comprising chemical dosing, bio-trickling filters and activated-carbon filters.

The pumping station upgrade increases sewerage capacity, optimises the existing sewage tunnel system of Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS), avoids any unacceptable impact to the harbour due to overflows of excess preliminarily treated sewage, and reduces odour and visual impacts to the public. 

In line with the government’s ‘single site, multiple uses’ initiative, the reinforced concrete deck of the 15 m high plant house roof was landscaped to create a new 1 ha public park. It includes a pavilion, landscaped areas, lawns, children's play facilities and fitness equipment for public use. Together with the adjacent 0.8 ha landscaped waterfront area, the landscaped deck forms the new Cha Kwo Ling Promenade which aims to maximise public enjoyment of harbour front.

Despite the challenge of Covid-19, the promenade opened to the public in August 2023, which was on time and within the project’s overall budget. DSD was the NEC project manager and Atkins China Limited was NEC supervisor.

Collaborative approach

Terence Tse, chief engineer of DSD’s HATS Division, says a key factor contributing to the project’s success was the mutual trust established among the team members in line with the NEC requirement to act in a ‘spirit of mutual trust and co-operation’. ‘The team collaborated with engineers, architects, landscape architects, play environment consultants, ecologists and stakeholders to shape the built environment for the benefit of all, showcasing purpose-driven leadership and a visionary approach to creating a space that exceeded community expectations.’

He says the project team’s collaborative adoption of design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) and building information modelling (BIM) methods successfully shortened the construction period of relevant activities by over 3 months. ‘Through NEC-inspired collaboration, a cost-saving design for the foundations proposed by the contractor was also adopted, leading to the first pile being installed just 3 months after the commencement of the works.’ 

Tse says NEC early warnings notified by the contractor proved their effectiveness in avoiding or minimising identified risks. ‘For example, the supply of precast components from China was seriously affected due to the unprecedented obstacles posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Risk reduction meetings ensured that innovative solutions were swiftly proposed and implemented, such as use of closed-circuit television for remote inspections in fabrication yards in China and appointment of a dedicated factory inspector.’

Thriving in adversity

He says that by proactively addressing material shortages and logistical hurdles, such as transitioning to shipping for transportation, the project not only continued uninterrupted by Covid-19 but also thrived in adversity. ‘This cohesive effort underscored the project team’s unwavering commitment to project delivery, stakeholder engagement and collective success, truly embodying the NEC essence of teamwork.’

Tse says NEC-inspired collaboration and innovation extended beyond its immediate scope, demonstrated by incorporating public feedback and engaging children in the design process through the Little Playground Planner workshop. ‘All parties have demonstrated mutual trust despite numerous changes to the designs. Despite initial objections from nearby citizens, the project ultimately satisfied their expectations, leading to a change in behaviours and showcasing respect for public opinion.’ 

‘Our sewage plant is now recognised as a major sightseeing attraction by the public, key opinion leaders and the media, and DSD is now actively considering applying the concept to other projects.’ 

Project highlight video

Benefits of using NEC

• NEC requirement to act in a ‘spirit of mutual trust and co-operation’ led to a collaborative working relationship between the project team members based on mutual trust.
• NEC-inspired collaboration led to adoption of the contractor’s cost-saving foundation design and DfMA, shortening relevant construction activities by over 3 months.
• NEC early warning and risk reduction meetings helped to avoid or minimise risks, which included ensuring the project continued uninterrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic.