The Ōtaki to North of Levin (O2NL) highway is a landmark 24km transport infrastructure project designed to improve safety and resilience in New Zealand’s lower North Island. As the project moved into Stage 2, the construction alliances faced a critical environmental challenge: managing water across seven river sites and ten pond transfers.
To meet this challenge, Prime Fluid Management—New Zealand’s experts in fluid management—was brought in to deliver a fully integrated pumping and dewatering package. Their mission: to bring peace of mind and keep productivity flowing by ensuring 100% uptime and environmental compliance across the 24km route.
The Collaboration
For this high-stakes project, Prime Fluid Management utilized PowerLink Australia’s rugged diesel generators to power their automated pumping systems. Facing difficult access and strict consent conditions, Prime Sales Engineer Duncan Moore and his team integrated PowerLink’s reliable power solutions with advanced telemetry to provide the project alliances with complete visibility and real-time control.
The PowerLink Solution
Prime Fluid Management selected a diverse fleet of PowerLink generators, choosing specific models to match the varying power demands of river diversions and sediment retention ponds.
Primary Product Specifications
| Model | Engine | Prime Power | Key Features & Application |
| GMS10KS-AU | Kubota D1105 | 10kVA | Ultra-Compact: Ideal for small-scale pumping in tight-access locations. |
| GMS23KS-AU | Kubota V2403 | 23kVA | Silent Performance: Low noise level (65.1 dB(A)) for sites near communities. |
| GMS45KS-AU | Kubota V3800 | 45kVA | Robust Reliability: Powering large-scale pond transfers and bulk dewatering. |
| WPS60S-AU | Perkins 1103A | 60kVA | Extended Runtime: Equipped with a 320L fuel tank for remote, continuous operation. |
| GMS80CS-AU | Cummins 4BTA | 80kVA | High-Torque: Supporting heavy-duty submersible pump arrays. |
| GMS100CS-AU | Cummins 6BT5.9 | 100kVA | Site-Wide Power: High output for multi-pump systems and site establishment. |
Technical Execution & Results
“We’ve had to manage difficult access to pumping locations, meet strict consent conditions, and ensure full automation of all pumps.”
— Duncan Moore, Prime Sales Engineer
By pairing PowerLink’s generation hardware with Prime’s expertise in fluid management, the project achieved:
- Total Visibility: PowerLink’s control systems allowed the telemetry to capture and store data, giving the customer real-time monitoring capabilities over the entire 24km stretch.
- Automated Compliance: Systems were programmed to respond automatically to water levels, ensuring sediment-laden water never breached environmental limits.
- Seamless Integration: The “Prime Project Delivery Pathway” ensured that the PowerLink-powered units were commissioned and supported throughout the rugged conditions of the O2NL site.
Through the strategic use of PowerLink products, Prime Fluid Management successfully mitigated environmental risks for one of New Zealand’s largest transport upgrades. This partnership ensured that the O2NL project stayed on schedule, proving that when expert fluid management meets world-class power generation, productivity never stops.
