Lower orowaiti

Kawatiri Coastal Trail - Carter's Beach Westport

The scheme is divided into five main sections of stopbanks:

Lower Orowaiti, Upper Orowaiti, North End, Lower Buller (Wharf to Buller Bridge) and Upper Buller (SH67 from Buller Bridge to Nine Mile Road).

Lower Orowaiti covers the area in Westport between Craddock Drive and Eastons Road to where it meets Stephen Road.

The stopbanks planned for there aim to protect homes from overflow from the Orowaiti River and estuary.

The section is made up of:

  • Avery’s stopbank

  • Eastons Road SH67 to Stephen Road

  • and Craddock Drive to Avery’s stopbank.

Avery’s stopbank

The Avery’s stopbank is part of the Lower Orowaiti section.

  • The geotechnical work is complete for Avery’s, along with final design.

  • Contractors have been invited to tender for the work. The tender closes at the end of May 2025.

  • The consent application will soon be lodged for Avery’s stopbank whilst tenders are considered.

  • A major culvert requires replacing as part of the work and the project team is looking at pre-purchasing the culvert pipes. The team has worked closely with Buller District Council over this part of the process.

  • Construction is scheduled for June/July following consenting and tendering.

  • The anticipated height of this stopbank would be between 1.1 and 1.5 metres high – up to 1.7 metres as it travels over the culvert.

  • Engagement with affected homeowners is being carried out as part of the pre-consent work.  

  • The stopbank, which is about 540-metres long is scheduled for completion in October/November 2025.

  • There will be tapers (a sloped section that reduces from full height back to natural ground level) at either end, where future sections will tie in.

What about the balance of the Lower Orowaiti section?

Geotechnical investigations are underway at Eastons Road SH67 to Stephen Road, and Craddock Drive to Avery’s stopbank. Provisional design is underway, but assessing the condition of the land is a key element of detailed design.

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