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This project will deliver new and upgraded flood defences for the Whirinaki community, including a residential stopbank, an industrial stopbank, and improved drainage. For the 38 households that were in Category 2C, construction beginning is a step toward greater certainty – and greater protection.
Overall construction progress
We are 66% through the whole build (residential and industrial) and are on track to complete the residential stopbank in August, as planned.
State Highway 2 - Traffic management
Our contractor continues to work on snags to ensure everything is up to spec. They’ve been working on the eastern side of SH2 and next week, they’ll move over to the western side.
Traffic management may be in place at times on State Highway 2 during these works. Please allow for extra travel time and follow all signage and crew instructions. Disruptions may include reduced speed limits, shoulder closures, and periods of stop/go traffic management.
The crew will be working Monday to Saturday between 7am – 5pm .
Upcoming construction work
Pohutukawa Drive
Construction of the swale (shallow trench-line drainage channel) to North Shore Road manhole continues.
A second swale dig-out will begin at the south end of Pohutukawa Drive.
SH2 to gravel beach
Build up the stopbank from North Shore Road.
Shape the stopbank on the gravel beach end to match the designed slope.
Complete the final parts of the soak pit construction.
Industrial stopbank drainage - Behind power plant
This project will deliver new and upgraded flood defences for the Whirinaki community, including a residential stopbank, an industrial stopbank, and improved drainage. It aims to reduce flood risk to homes, key infrastructure, and the Pan Pac pulp mill – one of Hawke’s Bay’s largest employers. With funding now in place, the project will now move into detailed design and construction planning.
Cyclone Gabrielle showed just how exposed this area is – and how critical stronger defences are. This project will better protect people’s homes, support local industry, and give a vital part of the region the chance to rebuild with confidence. It will also allow the 38 Category 2C properties on Pohutukawa Drive, North Shore Road and Whirinaki Road to move to the greater certainty (and safety) of Category 1.
We’re aiming to begin works in late 2025 and main construction in the early 2026, although there are still land access discussions, consultation, and planning to be done before we break ground. While we’re aiming to start then, some parts of the process sit outside our control, and they may affect the timeline.
Request more information about the project
+64 6 835 9200
159 Dalton Street. Napier 4110
Private Bag 6006, Napier 4142
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