Opening ceremonies were held in August to celebrate the end of two multi-year projects to improve flood protection and climate resilience for the Northland communities of Kawakawa, Ōtiria and Moerewa.  

The projects included a flood deflection bank on the Waiomio River to protect Kawakawa, and a new $3.5M road bridge and spillway on the Waiharakeke River to widen the waterway at what has traditionally been a flood-prone point.

The 60-metre-long Pokapu Road bridge, completed by Ventia in October 2023, replaced the old 18-metre bridge over the Waiharakeke River to ensure access was retained over the river’s widened span.

Ventia Project Manager Jaco Cronje said the Kawakawa, Ōtiria and Moerewa communities were located near rivers that had a history of bursting their banks after heavy rain. The new bridge, spillway and deflection bank would make a meaningful difference by reducing the seriousness and frequency of flood events locals had to deal with. 

Taumarere Flood Working Group Chair and Northland Regional Council Councillor Geoff Crawford said the work on the Waiharakeke River allowed triple the volume of flood water to pass beneath the bridge, reducing flooding caused by weather events and allowing it to cope with significant one-in-100-year floods. 

“This project highlights how large infrastructure developments can thrive on community input. At every stage, hapū, landowners, and the wider community have helped shape where we’ve got to today.”

Ventia’s work on the bridge portion of the project was recognised at the 2024 Civil Contractors New Zealand Northland Awards, where it received the Whangarei District Council Health and Safety Award on 21 June.