The collection and detention line is an impressive rock tunneling exercise, beside and beneath one of the world's most renowned harbors. In addition to directing a small fleet of road headers and tunnel boring machines to cut the main collection tunnel and access decline tunnels, the team must sink drop, access and vent shafts and remove spoils in residential and ecologically sensitive areas. Vehicle access declines at North Head, constrained by site conditions, twist like a roller coaster from the surface down to the suction chamber and pump station. Sydney Water's goal is to build the project quietly, quickly and cleanly. From the outset, team focused on cost and scope of work.
Members collectively solve problems and make decisions.
There are no change orders, say participants. This job would have been impossible without the alliance,'' says Greg Klamus, project director for Sydney Water. So everyone is focused on the end result, not on protecting their own position,'' says one participant. The interviews were not about our technical expertise or experience, they were about how we would respond as a team,'' says Abdul Rashidi, engineering manager and deputy project manager for Montgomery Watson. All 400 team members have their eyes on how to improve things, ''not just a dozen from our office,'' he says.