University of Otago Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Murdoch (left) visits the UOCCR Project site with Leighs Construction Senior Project Manager, Carl Geldermans.
Vice-Chancellor Professor David Murdoch is learning a lot about elements and excavation as the earth begins to move at the University of Otago Christchurch Redevelopment Project site.
Some of the mÄtauraka gathered on his tour of the Oxford Terrace Project site in late January includes a glimpse into the world of waler beams and the dewatering process.
Excavation is part of early work to build a world-class facility to attract a high calibre of staff and student to the University in its biggest capital works project yet.
Project Director Donna Howell says all five of the dewatering wells are now installed and ready for operation.
Dewatering, the process of removing groundwater, is to begin when excavation reaches the water table approximately three metres below ground.
A total of 30,000 tonnes of soil is to be removed from the site overall.
The dewatering wells will take groundwater from the project site and pump it into municipal stormwater drains during the next 18 months.