Media Release - Resource consent for the McKenna stopbank granted
Positive momentum for Westport’s flood mitigation scheme with work set to start on the McKenna stopbank
Resource consent for the McKenna stopbank has been granted, with work set to start shortly.
Reefton-based Roscos Contracting Ltd has been appointed to carry out the work, which is estimated to take several months to complete.
Roscos was one of five contractors who applied for the project via open tender on the Government Electronic Tender Service (GETS). The appointment was approved by the West Coast Regional Council (WCRC).
The McKenna stopbank is a 780-metre section of flood defence aimed at reducing flood risk to Westport, offering protection to the community and local infrastructure. It forms part of the project’s Upper Orowaiti area of flood protection. The stopbank, on private farmland, will be about 2.2 metres high and 18 metres wide at the base, depending on the ground contours.
West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) Chair Peter Haddock says this marks the first significant step in the construction phase of the Westport Flood Protection Scheme.
“With access agreements now in place and all resource consent requirements addressed, work on the McKenna Stopbank is set to begin shortly. We are delighted that we will soon be taking such a positive move forward in delivering Westport’s broader flood mitigation strategy.”
West Coast Regional Council Chief Engineer Peter Blackwood says it was good to see such high quality of tenders for this piece of work.
“That is encouraging for us as we have many more stages of the flood mitigation work to put out for tender yet. We welcome Rosco Contractors Ltd for this project. Their proven expertise and commitment to high-quality work will be essential in delivering this vital infrastructure for the Westport community.
“We are also making good progress in other areas of the project including carrying out geotechnical and environmental impacts investigations in the Floating Lagoon area, ahead of lodging consent for that stopbank, as well as carrying out final design for the Avery’s stopbank.
The flood protection project is a key component of the wider Resilient Westport programme, a collaborative effort between WCRC, Buller District Council, iwi, and various government departments.
The total budget for the flood protection scheme is estimated at $23.97 million, with central government contributing $15.6 million and WCRC providing $8.37 million.
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For further information please contact:
Resilient Westport Communications team
For more information on Resilient Westport’s flood protection work, go to: https://www.resilientwestport.co.nz/flood-protection
The consent applies to a 780 metre section of McKennas stopbank (identified by the arrow) which forms part of the Upper Orowaiti stopbank (shown in pink).