Pākowhai

Latest update

We are now moving to the next stage of this project, which includes onsite investigations. A desktop archeological assessment has already been completed with drone surveying and topographical survey underway. Geotechnical, geophysical, ecological, hydrographical, and land contamination investigations will be getting underway shortly.

Conversations with potentially affected landowners for proposed stopbank works are ongoing. We recognise this is a difficult process, especially for landowners who are new to the proposed solution.

Other activities critical in this phase include:

• Developing the project plan
• Identifying project risks
• Estimating project costs
• Undertaking a Cultural Values Assessment
• Progressing design work
• Drafting land easements
• Identifying the location of materials for construction
• Developing consent application.

About the Pākowhai project

The Pākowhai project involves two major stopbank works.

The first is re-establishing a stopbank around 5.5km in length along the true left bank of the Tūtaekurī-Waimate Stream east of SH2. This work runs from the State Highway to the secondary overflow stopbank at Hodgson Road.

The second project involves the creation of a 3km stopbank from Links Road along the Tūtaekurī-Waimate Stream to SH2.

In some areas where the footprint of the previous stopbank has been encroached, there may be the requirement for some stream realignment works to provide a large enough footprint to build the stopbank. This will manage flooding from the Tūtaekurī-Waimate Stream and increase resilience from some overflow from the existing stopbank scheme.

Project timeline

The work can be broken down into phases, as shown in our timeline diagram below.