What are we doing?
We’re about to get started on our next phase of work on the Lower Motueka River stopbank network, to build resilience and reduce the community’s risk of flooding from the river.
Following the successful completion of Stage One earlier this year, funding for the Motueka Stopbanks Refurbishment Project Stage Two was approved by Kānoa Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, as part of the Government’s Resilient Infrastructure Fund.
We received a grant of $7.5 million from Kānoa, of which $6.6 million will go towards work on the Lower Motueka River stopbank refurbishment, and $900,000 going towards stopbank repairs at Peach Island. We are providing another $5 million in co-funding for a total project budget of $12.5 million.
The Lower Motueka River and Brooklyn Stream stopbanks are to have a 6.7km upgrade, building on the 4.8km initial stage of work. The stopbank refurbishment on the Lower Motueka River would protect approximately 1,500 hectares of fertile and productive land, along with portions of the town itself.
So far, we have carried out some initial sonic borehole drilling to recover soil core samples, which helps us better understand the ground conditions for the work ahead. We are now planning to begin construction on the first work package in January 2025.
Where we are working:
Purple lines are new works planned, Yellow was completed in phase 1, blue lines are Brooklyn Stream stopbank works.
How will it affect me?
The river itself won’t be affected, but if you use the riverbanks for recreation, you may find access to sections of the stopbank temporarily restricted or closed off, so check before you make any plans.
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Current status |
Delivery |
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Start Date |
Construction start: Jan 2025 for year one works. |
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End date |
Total works will be May 2028 |
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Access |
TBC |
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Contractor (Main) |
Taylors Contracting Ltd |
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Cost |
12.5M |
This project to increase Levels of Service and reduce flooding along the west side of High Street and around the Wratt Street / Woodlands Ave intersection.
Kicking off mid 2024, we have started by investigating the work, this will be developed in two more (since the Motueka West Stormwater Discharge System project) stages and be totally complete in 2027.
| Current status | In design |
| Start Date | Construction start early 2025 |
| End date | Construction mid 2025 |
| Access | To be advised |
| Contractors | Stage 2 – Fulton Hogan, Stage 3 TBC |
| Cost | $588K |
Wratt Street Overland flow path investigations at Woodlands Ave - Ground Penetrating Radar, potholing and coal tar sampling.
Contact:
Project Manager: Giles Griffith
Email [email protected] for further information.
We have projects set up to look and improve these existing treatment plants to reduce impact on the environment and meet modern standards.
We are starting with Collingwood, Tākaka and Motueka and improving their Secondary Treatment Systems by investigating the work required and engaging special expertise.
We are looking at nutrient loading, decreasing solids and stormwater flows in all three plants, as well as reducing nitrogen and ammonia that is produced.
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Current status |
In design |
| Start Date | Construction March 2025 |
| End date | Construction end March 2026 |
| Access | N/A |
| Contractors |
Not yet appointed |
| Cost | $TBC |
The intersection upgrade on Whakarewa Street in the form of a roundabout near Manoy Street, is to provide safe access to and from the new Whakarewa Phase 1 Housing Development by Wakatu Inc, and the low impact roundabout design needs to cater for the safe egress of cyclists and pedestrians in all four directions.
The timeline for construction will align with provision of other services once design and consenting has progressed further.
Project Manager: Rob O'Grady - Email [email protected]
This project will mean a change around town for walkers and cyclists.
This significant investment in Motueka will bring positive change and choice for locals.
Motueka local Dan Roberts, Project Manager at BPM, is running this multi-stage project for us.
The project is looking to improve cycling routes on many streets and trails throughout the town, creating connections and safer options for kids to bike to school, and people to bike to work.
Click here to find out more - Motueka Projects | Transport Choices 2023 | Shape Tasman
September 2024 Update:
Stage 2 is 100% complete and the pump station is currently on hold until further developments.
November 2023 Update:
Stage Two: New Wastewater rising main from Pah Street - Motueka Bridge
Stage 2 is over 50% complete. The priority was to complete the construction on State highway 60 before the holiday season.
The team are now working along Parker Street heading towards Atkins Street. 1700m of pipe has been laid out of the proposed 3000m and on track to the programme.
October 2023:
This stage of the project is for the installation of a new polyethylene (PE) wastewater rising main approximately 3 kilometres long. The pipeline alignment will follow Pah Street, Atkins Street, Parker Street, High Street and Lyndhurst Avenue (SH60). All sections can be installed via open trenching methods, with the exception of a short section beneath the Motueka River stopbank which will require use of a trenchless installation technology.
The pipeline will serve the growing communities in Motueka West, conveying wastewater from development there to the wastewater treatment plant.
The pipeline alignment will start at Lyndhurst Avenue SH60 at the Motueka River Bridge and continue along High Street, Parker Street, Atkins Street and Pah Street. All sections of the pipeline will be installed via open trenching.
There are eight phases for this portion of the works. Phase one – between Lyndhurst Ave SH60 to Parker Street turn-off – has now finished.
Beginning in October 2023, work will move along Parker St to the intersection at Te Maatu Drive through to Wilkie Street. From Monday 9 October, the intersection at Te Maatu Drive will be closed so access from High Street into Parker St will only be available for residents in this first section. We expect this stage to take approximately three weeks.
The overall Rising Main project is planned to be completed by May 2024.
We are mindful of the impact that wait times can have on people’s day, and we are aiming to keep these to a minimum.
We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation during this work.
Stage One: COMPLETE
What are we doing?
To enable growth in this less flood prone and sea level rise affected area, a new pump station and rising main must be installed to deliver wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), pumping via a shared main starting at the Motueka River Bridge.
Why are we doing it?
This project is necessary to serve and enhance any Motueka West developments and incudes the installation of wastewater rider mains along Grey Street from the Green Lane intersection North to Pah Street. The water main will follow the same alignment with an additional branch east along Whakarewa street past Motueka High School.
How will it affect me?
Start Date: 22 August 2022
End Date: January 2023
Contractor: CJ Industries Ltd
Site Contact: Morgan Corrie-Johnston - 021 307 145
Project Manager: Adam Henderson, phone 03 543 8400 or email [email protected].
October 2024
The fences are down and we’re celebrating. The new Decks Reserve playground in Motueka will officially open with a special community ceremony on Friday 8 November.
The fabulous new development, worth close to $600,000, comes thanks to funding input from the Motueka Community Board.
There’s been a major redevelopment of existing play equipment, including the popular play tower, see-saw and space net, alongside the addition of numerous new play features.
There’s a new 3x3 basketball court, with soft rubberised matting around the play equipment and all manner of sensory and passive play elements, plus two new drinking fountains. There are now multiple swing sets including new basket net swings, accessible swings, and toddler swings, with a full revamp of concrete pathways, drainage, benches, seats, and landscaping.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony starts at 9.00 am on Friday 8 November and everyone’s invited to try out the new playground from 10.00 am.
Work begins August 2024
The new development for all ages comes thanks to funding input from the Motueka Community Board.
The total project, worth close to $600,000, will see a major redevelopment of the existing play equipment with the addition of numerous new play features.
The plans include a new 3x3 asphalt basketball court, and soft rubberised matting around play equipment with all manner of sensory and passive play elements. There will be multiple swing sets including new basket net swings, accessible swings, and toddler swings, along with a full revamp of concrete pathways, benches, seats and landscaping.
Some existing play equipment will be retained in the new layout, including the popular play tower, see-saw and space net. Read more about the plans.
The new Decks Reserve playground is expected to be ready to use by this summer.
Project Update July 2024
We invited our iwi partners to come along to the playground site and bless the project to begin works as well as share kai with members of the team. We have also awarded Nelmac the contract to work on the playground and work is set to begin end of July this year and due to be complete in September.
Decks Reserve Playground, Motueka
About the project
We’re redesigning and updating the current play space at Decks Reserve to improve accessibility for users in the community. This includes upgrading elements of the playground which are entering their expiration, as well as designing new aspects which cater to wider cross section of users including wheelchair friendly access.
Project Manager: Joe Bywater - Email [email protected]
Update July 2024 - COMPLETE
A key $4.5 million investment in improving stormwater resilience in part of Motueka is finished.
The Motueka West Stormwater Discharge Project involved constructing culverts to take stormwater underneath High Street, along Lowe Street, across Woodlands Avenue and through the Motueka Christian Fellowship property to Woodlands Drain.
Motueka West is planned to be the main new development area for the town.
The area encompasses 126 hectares of land bounded by Whakarewa Street to the north, High Street (SH60) to the east, King Edward Street to the south and Queen Victoria Street to the west.
Because it’s winter and temperatures are a bit colder, our contractor Fulton Hogan has left extra loose chip on Lowe Street to protect the new surface. While it will help the street in the long term, it means traffic will need to be a bit more cautious in the short term.
They’ll be out checking this occasionally over the coming months and will touch up any areas as needed.
Previous updates
The Motueka West stormwater discharge project is making significant progress, and the next milestone to be marked is the laying of pipes under State Highway 60 / High Street.
In the next phase of work, we intend to close a section of High Street at the Lowe Street intersection and the entrance to Wratt Street.
This work means we are going to have to close that section of the road for nearly two weeks from midnight Sunday 16 June until Thursday 27 June.
The work involves constructing culverts to take stormwater underneath High Street, along Lowe Street, across Woodlands Avenue and through the Motueka Christian Fellowship property to Woodlands Drain.
Motueka West is planned to be the main new development area for the town.
There will be significant detours in place while this phase of the project is done. All northbound traffic will detour via King Edward Street, Queen Victoria Street and along Whakarewa Street. Southbound traffic will be diverted along Tudor Street to Thorp Street and along Old Wharf Road.
Residents near the site will still have access to their properties, and pedestrians and cyclists can still move through the area with the help of traffic management staff.
All construction on site will be completed during daylight hours but the highway will remain closed for the duration of work.
Download the Antenno app on your smartphone to stay up to date with changes to traffic flows throughout the project.
Update March 2024
Construction for the Motueka West Stormwater Discharge System project started this week at the Woodlands Creek end. The $4.5M contract will put in place multiple rows of stormwater pipes over a distance of 500m from Woodlands Creek, along Lowe Street and under High St into undeveloped land to the west. It will enable development of the first stage of Motueka West and will also alleviate localised flooding at High St and the Woodlands Ave/Lowe Street intersection.
Looking towards Woodlands Creek where the walking/cycle track has been diverted to enable the headworks to be installed
Temporary roadway built for the Church who's land the work has started in.
This project involves constructing culverts to take stormwater underneath High Street ( State Highway 60), along Lowe Street across Woodland Avenue and through the Motueka Christian Fellowship property to Woodlands Drain.
The purpose of this project is to provide additional stormwater capacity from the Motueka West Development Area* ( to the coastal marine area / Woodlands Creek. We’re investing about $4.5 million in improving this vital infrastructure.
The project involves undertaking improvements to drain stormwater west under High Street at the Wratt Street intersection. Shown on the picture above.
In the first six weeks or so of construction, our contractor is working within the church grounds before continuing across Woodlands Avenue, up Lowe Street and eventually across High Street.
The project is expected to take about six months, and there will be detours for traffic during some phases of construction.
Project Manager: Giles Griffith
Contact: [email protected]
*The area encompasses 126 hectares of land bounded by Whakarewa Street to the north, High Street (SH60) to the east, King Edward Street to the south and Queen Victoria Street to the west.
Work Complete June 2024
Work is nearing completion on the Motueka stopbanks refurbishment programme. Sites completed in the last six months include:
Debris that was deposited in the back channel from the Shaggery catchment during Cyclone Gita was also moved. This will improve flood resilience on Peach Island in a location where the stopbanks overtopped in July 2021. Localised repairs of weak spots on the stopbanks around Peach Island were also completed.
Once the overall work is complete, it will provide the area with a 1-in-50-year level of flood protection.
Funding of $10 million has been made available for refurbishment to improve their condition and provide additional climate change resilience. The project has received $7.5 million of funding from Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. This funding contributes towards projects that build more resilient river communities.
Project Update December 2023
Phase 3: Work on emergency stop bank repair work next to the Horticulture Research Centre in Riwaka is nearing completion and is programmed to be completed in December 2023. Work at Peach Island is complete. Localised repairs at Hurley Bank are complete except for minor tidy up tasks. This project is majority funded by MBIE Covid Response Stimulus funding.
Phase 2: Complete except for minor finishing tasks.
Phase 3: Work on emergency stop bank repair work next to Horticulture Research Centre in Riwaka is approximately 50% complete and is programmed to be completed in October 2023. Work at Peach Island to complete localised repairs is continuing. Refurbishment and raising of 250m of stopbank at Peach Island, where overtopping occurred in 2021, has been completed. Localised repairs at Hurley Bank are in design. This project is majority funded by MBIE Covid Response Stimulus funding.
Motueka Stopbank Phase Two is nearing completion.
We’ve made some great progress on our Lower Motueka River stopbank refurbishment project, with four of the five sites essentially complete and providing over 3km of flood protection measures.
Phase One was completed in late 2021 and Phase Two started in March 2022. Phase Two involved work at River Road, Lyndhurst Drive, Parker Street and Douglas Road.
We have now reached the finishing stages of these locations, while work is progressing well on an extension of work at the end of Whakarewa Street.
The refurbishment improves the integrity of the stopbanks and provides safer access for ongoing maintenance.
Funding of $10 million has been made available for refurbishment to improve their condition and provide additional climate change resilience.
The project has received $7.5 million of funding from Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. This funding contributes towards projects that build more resilient river communities.
Phase Three work is due to start soon at Peach Island and the Plant and Food Research Centre. We are also working with iwi to explore opportunities for environmental rejuvenation. All sites are scheduled for completion by the end of summer 2024.
We’re undertaking a programme of work on the Lower Motueka River stopbank network, to reduce the community’s risk of flooding from the river.
The current stopbank network was built in the 1950s and some areas have been worn away over time, or have settled, meaning they aren’t strong enough or high enough to provide the level of flood protection we need.
Generally, repair work will involve adding compacted earth-fill to sections of the existing stopbank that are too low or too weak. Repair work will happen in priority areas to resolve two types of issues:
There is a lot of work required, so the restoration is being staged over three summers between 2020 and 2024. Once the work is complete, it will provide the area with a 1-in-50-year level of flood protection.
We expect the cost of these measures will be $10M. Under the Central Government’s Covid-19 initiatives, we have received a $7.5M grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment's Provincial Development Unit towards that cost.
Stopbank sites under repair
The river itself won’t be affected, but if you use the riverbanks for recreation, you may find access to sections of the stopbank temporarily restricted or closed off, so check before you make any plans.
We are already in contact with landowners and occupiers of all affected land/riverbank areas.
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Current status |
Phase One work completed. Development of the scope for Phase Three is being undertaken and work is expected to begin in early 2023. |
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Start date |
February 2021 |
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End date |
All sites will be complete by the end of summer 2024. |
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Access |
Access to sections of the stopbank may be temporarily restricted or closed. Check if you are planning any recreational visits. |
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Contractors |
Phase 2 Sites - Taylors Contracting Ltd |
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Construction cost |
$8M (All sites) |
This map shows the area of works. See a larger version here.
Rob O'Grady, phone 03-543 8400 or email [email protected]
Phase 2 sites: Taylors Contracting Ltd - Brendon Dodd, phone 027-422 2059
Work at Peach Island to complete localised repairs is complete.
Refurbishment and raising of 250m of stopbank at Peach Island, where overtopping occurred in 2021, has been completed. Localised repairs at Hurley Bank are also completed
The project is funded by MBIE - Kanoa to improve flood resilience.
Our contractor - Asphalt and Construction, are systematically working their way around the highest priority repairs, starting with the upstream side of the island.
Project Manager: Joe Bywater
Phone: 03 543 8400
Email: [email protected]
