Street steam almost at end

Contractors expect to finish replacing 205m of steam piping in Castle St, Dunedin by Easter.

5 March, 2007

Energy for Industry general manager Mike Suggate said a sealed system, costing almost $1 million was being laid between a boiler-house and Cadbury Confectionery Ltd to replace cracked and corroded steam piping.

The old system, which consisted of insulated steel pipes encased in concrete, had not withstood pressure from traffic in Castle St, part of the one-way system.

"Over time, fill surrounding the concrete casing had subsided, and the pipes became prone to water damage or cracking," Mr Suggate said.

The new piping system, which was imported from the United States, was surrounded by different insulation material and sand, which made it more resistant to pressure and moisture, Mr Suggate said.

Vapour seen by people passing by was not steam escaping from damaged pipes but water evaporating after making contact with hot pipes near the boilers.

Contractors experienced "minor delays" after excavations in one area of trenching collapsed after becoming inundated with storm water.

Mr Suggate said Energy for Industry had consulted Transit New Zealand to minimise traffic delays.

Allan Sparks, acting senior station officer at Dunedin Central Fire Station, said the excavations restricted access to the front of the station, but had not caused any problems or delays.  Fire appliances gained access from Leith St, at the rear of the station, during the work.

Long-term steam supply contracts for Dunedin Hospital and Cadbury Confectionery are administered by Energy for Industry (a business of Meridian Energy Ltd), after being purchased from the Otago District Health Board in 2003.

Otago Daily Times 17.02.2007

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