Waihōpai Invercargill stop bank upgrade
Lower Waihōpai River as it enters Kōreti New River Estuary, showing the original stop bank on the true left.
Work in progress on the stopbank between Beatrice Street and Phillip Street, March 2023.
Benefits
- Widening and strengthening the Waihōpai stop bank has made it more robust and provides an opportunity for us to increase the height in future, as our understanding of the impacts of climate change and climate models change over time
- Increased protection for people, homes, communities, and critical infrastructure
- Work completed with central government funding assistance
- The newly reinstated multi-use pathway now meets the high standards of other shared pathways in the region
Project update (June 2024)
- Site investigations and detailed design associated with the Waihōpai stop bank modifications completed
- Engagement with affected landowners and key interest groups is ongoing
- Consents and approvals finalised for the eastern stop bank upgrade
- Construction contract awarded to Ryal Bush Transport Ltd. December 2022
- Contractors on site from late January 2023
- Work on the section between Beatrice Street and the railway line commenced in early February 2023, and bulk earthworks are complete
- Bulk earthworks on the section from Victoria Street to Beatrice Street are fifty per cent complete, with work suspended over the winter months while the ground conditions are too wet
- Shared pathway north from Victoria Street reopened
- Work recommenced from Fox Street south to Stead Street, November 2023 and is nearing completion
- The removal of high-risk trees and stumps near the Waihōpai River and Otepuni Stream is ongoing
- Bulk earthworks on the section from Fox Street to Stead Street completed, re-grassed and shared pathway reinstated
- Project completed late May 2024
