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  4. Firth of Thames foreshore east and west stopbanks
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Funded: $1.92m by MBIE (climate resilience)
Total project cost: $3.1m
Project duration: 3 years
Jobs expected over project life: 27

This project will see the upgrade of the foreshore east and west stopbanks to design standard. These stopbanks, constructed in 1961, provide coastal and flood protection to the pastoral land between the Waihou, Piako and Waitakaruru rivers. The work is critical for the flood protection of the Hauraki Plains, from the Firth of Thames to Te Aroha on the Waihou River, to almost Morrinsville on the Piako River. This includes all highways, roads, schools, reserves, etc. The material for the upgrade works will come from the local area using silt traps, thereby reducing sedimentation in waterways, increasing water quality and removing transportation needs. This project ties in with the Piako River green corridor project.

Benefits: 

  • Increased land productivity.
  • Increased resilience in the food production sector and employment.
  • Increased resilience of communities – towns of Ngātea, Kerepehi, Paeroa and Te Aroha, are below mean tide level.
  • More surety of travel across the Hauraki Plains to the Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga and Hamilton, with the state highway being a vital link for tourism, emergency services and the economic sector.
  • Part of the upgrade includes a review of the Kopu to Kaiaua Cycleway, with a view that a new design will reduce future upgrade costs to these assets.

Progress update:

  • East and west foreshore topographical survey works complete.
  • Detailed design drawings and modelling complete.
  • Ecological assessment complete.
  • Resource consent (assessment of environmental effects) complete.
  • Stakeholder consultation initial meetings complete.
  • Geotechnical assessments complete.
  • Excavation of western foreshore sediment trap complete, providing the material requirements for the stopbank earthworks.
  • 2.4 kilometres of stopbank upgraded.
  • Material assessment complete.
  • Procurement for construction earthworks for the summer complete.
  • Liased with Hauraki District Council and Hauraki Rail Trail about access.
  • Rail Trail between Waitakaruru and Kopu Bridge closed till approximately April 2024 while works are underway. 

Next steps: 

  • Continue liaising with the Piako River green corridor project and asset rationalisation project to ensure mutual benefits.
  • Continue stakeholder communications and engagement.
  • Complete 11 kilometres of stopbank upgrade over summer 2023/24.
A digger excavates material from the sediment trap for later use to top up the foreshore stopbank.
[1/2] A digger excavates material from the sediment trap for later use to top up the foreshore stopbank.

Factsheets

find out about the other projects we received funding for